tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50360072916870527402024-03-05T12:13:44.258+06:00Elita's NotesElita Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15708378163417621945noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5036007291687052740.post-21953553315042686992008-04-06T10:45:00.000+06:002008-04-06T10:47:54.737+06:00Poetry in Music<p class="unnamed2 style7 style66" align="left"><span class="style69">A</span>ccording to Plato at the touch of love, everyone becomes a poet, a notion that continues to be validated even in present times. Recent album launches in the local music scene, however, show that it is not only the euphoric side of love that inspires musicians to write songs, frustration over unrequited love or even vengeance can be themes for lyricists. Even an abusive word or two may creep in for effect, as is the case in one of the songs on a particular album recently released from a popular and well-reputed music label.</p> <p class="style7">Listening to Azizul Abedin's first self-titled album, produced and distributed by Sangeeta, one notices a mixture of emotions. Written and tuned by Azizul Abedin himself, the set of ten songs in this album has been composed by the famous Fuad Ibne Rabbi. Rather than the compositions, which includes a soothing mix of soft instruments and subtle melodies, this album would probably attract music listeners more for its intense lyrics than the music.</p> <p class="style7"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2008/03/01/mu01.jpg" height="215" width="450" /></p> <p class="style7">Abedin relates several stories through his words. Where musicians tend to write about the hurt within, inflicted upon them by the unfair world, cruel nature and their insensitive beloveds, Azizul Abedin writes about the pain that he might have inflicted on someone. In Aami Ashbo Bole, Abedin talks about an afternoon when his beloved stands by the window waiting for him to come and pull her close. By dusk, she finally realises that he would never come.</p> <p class="style7">In Kichu Bolo, Abedin asks the world to stop talking about dreams, flowers, birds and all the beautiful elements on earth. Life is definitely not a bed of roses. Why not talk about the bitterness experienced in love, why not glance at the tears for once instead of the smile, why not think about the destruction caused by the deadly rivers and simply forget about it's superficial beauty? In this song, Abedin asks people to stop daydreaming and come forward to speak the truth.</p> <p class="style7">In spite of urging the world to take off it's mask and reflect on bitter reality, Abedin himself stops in his tracks and wonders about a world that could have been his. Probably one of his best-written lyrics in the album, Durjoger Raat, Abedin remembers a soothing evening during a dark and stormy night.</p> <p class="style7">Azizul Abedin's work in his self-titled album may not have introduced a fresh sound, but has definitely done a praiseworthy job in terms of his lyrics. However, the music label has been unsuccessful in distributing enough copies of this album to the market. Though it has been a few months since the album has been launched, due to lack of marketing and promotion, many music listeners are not aware of this new musician on the block. Many of the major outlets in the city, unfortunately, have also not been informed of this album.</p> <p class="style7">In an era where technology has popularised digital music amongst the musicians and music listeners, Abedin's meaningful words have gone a long way to reiterate human pathos in music.</p> <p class="unnamed2 style7 style66" align="left"> </p> <p class="unnamed2 style7 style66" align="center"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;color:black;" ><b><br /></b></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;color:black;" ><b><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> Copyright (R) thedailystar.net 2007</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Volume </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><strong>7</strong> Issue </span><strong><strong><strong><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><b>10</b></span> | <strong><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >March 7</span></strong></strong></strong><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >,</span></strong><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><strong> 2008</strong></span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" > |</span></span></div><p class="unnamed2 style7 style66" align="center"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;color:black;" ><b><br /></b></span></p> <p class="unnamed2 style7 style66" align="center"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;color:black;" ><b><br /></b></span></p>Elita Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15708378163417621945noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5036007291687052740.post-63422097033737024102008-04-06T10:43:00.000+06:002008-04-06T10:44:47.298+06:00A Muktijoddha's Story<p class="unnamed2 style7 style64"><span class="style68">T</span>here are countless stories that we hear about the Liberation War from our elders. However, it is not everyday that one gets to meet a Muktijoddha, recalling the endless days and sleepless nights, preparing for the Liberation War. Tara Miyah, one such freedom fighter, talks of the days when he was strong and dependable, the way he and his team fought the Pakistani army and finally how, more than three decades later, he and his family are trying to survive in a free Bangladesh.</p> <p class="style7">Mohammad Tara Miyah was in his late twenties during the Liberation War, Back then, young men were always in danger of being picked up by the Pakistani army and tortured to death. "Many of my friends would go missing for days together," says Tara Miyah. "Some would turn up after weeks, bruised, physically and mentally deranged, but most of them could never be found. That's why it had become a trend for young men to join the team of Muktijoddhas." Popular in his hometown, Gaibanda, for his strength and a good athlete back in the days, Tara Miyah had been the target for the local collaborators and the army for a long time.</p> <table align="right" border="0" width="81"> <tbody><tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2008/04/01/pr1.jpg" height="289" width="200" />Mohammad Tara Miyah</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="style7">Finally, Tara Miyah joined the team of Muktijoddhas. "As soon as I joined the team, we crossed the border over to India," he says. "We were training in Darjeeling for over a month. There were young boys from all over the country. We were taught to use the rifles and also ways to camouflage ourselves from the enemy."</p> <p class="style7">Meanwhile, back home, the sufferings and the mass murders had begun. "It was extremely painful for us," Tara Miyah reminisces. "We were away from our home, family and friends. All we could do was hope for our loved ones to be safe from the brutal Pakistani forces. I remember wishing at one point, to do something more than what I was doing. I wanted to fight these people who were inflicting so much pain on us!"</p> <p class="style7">Soon after, a few army officers visited the training programme in Darjeeling and selected a few Muktijoddhas to join the army. "I was also selected for the army and almost immediately we travelled to Sylhet to fight the war. After camping out in Tengratilla for a few hours, we attacked a Pakistani army base at 4:00 in the morning."</p> <p class="style7">Tara Miyah, now in his 60s, still remembers the battle like it happened only yesterday; the bombs, bloodshed and the poisonous gas that seemed to choke him and his comrades to death. "It was terrifying," he admits. "Despite all the training that I had received, the first actual experience was frightening, but satisfying at the same time."</p> <p class="style7">He remembers the time when he heard the news of hundreds of innocent human beings being tortured, raped and slaughtered in his homeland. "My brothers and sisters were simply trying to protect themselves from the atrocities," he says. "What had they done to deserve such a horrifying fate in the hands of the Pakistani army? That they were proud Bangalis was reason enough."</p> <p class="style7">For nine long months, Tara Miyah trained and fought the army until an independent Bangladesh was declared. "It was like grabbing hold of a dream!" he cries. "You can't touch your dream, but back then, it seemed like we could feel it. In a nutshell, we were all ecstatic. We were hoping for something big to happen now. We had driven away the oppressors. Now we had a land of our own! I would walk around with my head held high."</p> <p class="style7">That was 37 years ago. Today, the scenario has changed for Tara Miyah. After retiring from the army as a sepoy, he and his family have been leading a pitiful life. It has only been a couple of months now that Tara Miyah has been receiving a stipend of tk 500 from the Government. "My elder son lost his sight when he was a child," says Tara Miyah. "Even at this old age, my wife and I have to look out for him." Sharing a small quarter with several others in Tongi, Tara Miyah's elder son earns around tk 100 every day. "I am not sure what he does for a living exactly," says Tara Miyah. "He sits near the Tongi railway lines from early morning to late evening. People who walk by help out by giving him something or the other. But he is still a proud young man. After all, he is the son of a freedom fighter." Tara Miyah's younger son is studying his Bachelors at local college in Gaibanda.</p> <p class="style7">Tara Miyah spends his time now, moving from one place to another asking for help. When survival becomes almost unbearable, he comes down to Dhaka for a few days at a stretch, contacting his seniors from the army, for food or books for his younger son. "I fought for my country with courage and pride," he says. "If I need help, why would it be disrespectful for me to ask my friends? I would do so with pride and courage, even today."</p> <p class="style7">Photo: <strong>Shafique Alam</strong></p> <p class="unnamed2 style7 style64" align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;color:black;"><b><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> Copyright (R) thedailystar.net 2008</span></b></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="unnamed2 style7 style64" align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;">Volume </span><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><strong>7</strong> Issue </span><strong><strong><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><b>1</b></span></strong><strong><strong><strong><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><b>4</b></span> | <strong><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;">April 4</span></strong></strong></strong></strong><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;">,</span></strong><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><strong> 2008</strong></span><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"> |</span></p>Elita Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15708378163417621945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5036007291687052740.post-53181627191065685932008-04-06T10:34:00.000+06:002008-04-06T10:43:01.086+06:00Nailing the 'If' Factor<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><strong><br /></strong></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="unnamed2 style32 style33"><span class="style116"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2008/04/01/c4.jpg" align="left" height="300" width="94" /></span> </p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style33 unnamed2"> </p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style114">Being the biggest contributor to the country's foreign exchange- around 76 percent- and employing around 2.2 million people, 80 percent of them women, the importance of nurturing a sector as vibrant and thriving as the garments industry, cannot be emphasised enough. With export of Ready Made Garments (RMG) reaching 9.2 billion in 2007 and predictions of it rising to 12 billion or more in the next two years, it is obvious that the industry is growing at an exponential speed. Greater demand for our garments abroad indicates the improvement in quality of the products as well as greater customer confidence, which translates to further expansion of the industry, more employment, more consumers in the domestic market and a huge boost to the economy. However, there are many jolts and stumbles along the road to economic freedom and overcoming them will determine whether we can sustain the boom that is waiting to happen.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style32"><span class="style32 unnamed2"><strong>Aasha Mehreen Amin and Elita Karim<br /> Photographs: ZAHEDUL I KHAN </strong></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style32" align="left"><span class="style118">I</span>t is like entering 'garment utopia'. Greenery adorns the tall shiny building; a gushing fountain greets the visitor as birds chirp away in the swaying, leafy trees. It is lunchtime and scores of young men and women walk towards an area where the food is being served while others stroll out for a quick meeting with their families living close by. Still others go to the child-care unit to nurse their children or just say hello to their kids.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style110">Inside the building, everything is squeaky clean, the executive offices, glass walls, even the factory floors where state-of-the-art machinery add to the sophisticated process of making each garment. After lunch, we are taken on tour of the different units - dyeing, spinning, cutting, stitching and so on. Hundreds of workers wearing colourful masks can be seen feverishly operating the sewing machines, sorting, cutting fabric, sewing on various parts of the garment that will end up in some fancy store in downtown London or New York or some other trendy American or European city. The masks are to protect the workers against cloth dust and supervisors strictly enforce this practice. Health and safety of the workers are a major priority: the floors are clean and airy with proper emergency exits, fire extinguishers and warnings about wearing safety gear such as gum boots in the washing unit and metal gloves for the cutters. A fulltime doctor is on duty at the medical unit, which is again, clean and has two beds for workers who may fall ill while on the job. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style110" align="center"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2008/04/01/c5.jpg" height="290" width="500" /><br /> <span class="osdn-navtext">The industry is growing at an exponential speed </span> </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style110">This is a factory in Kaliakor, around 50 km from Dhaka, owned by Far East Knitting and Dyeing Industries Limited and gives a glimpse of what the future can be like for this industry. Many other factories that line the road next to this factory are as modern as this one, says the company's director, Mohammed Bin Quasem, an entrepreneur who is quite fanatical about bringing innovations to improve efficiency, productivity and quality. One of the biggest hurdles a garments factory owner has to cross is reducing lead time -- the turnaround time from receipt of an order to the delivery of a product as this is a key factor in staying competitive in a market where giants like China and India can deliver products to international markets far more quickly than Bangladesh which has the longest lead-time amongst its competitors. A short lead-time is crucial in a market that moves according to latest fashion trends, which keep changing all the time. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style110">Far East's strategy has been to charter a plane from Germany that could load the goods on Saturday and deliver them in London on Sunday. “Our buyers were very happy and we were getting orders for a 100,000 extra pieces every week!” Quasem adds that by now Bangladesh's garments are well known internationally for their high quality in fabric, stitching etc. In the fast expanding knitwear industry, around 98 percent of the fabric is made in Bangladesh, says Quasem. Such developments in reducing the gap between demand and supply of raw material, particularly for woven fabrics, is important in reducing lead-time.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style110" align="center"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2008/04/01/c6.jpg" height="209" width="300" /><br /> <span class="osdn-navtext">Mohammed Bin Quasem, Director, Far East Knitting and Dyeing<br /> Industries Ltd</span> </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style110">Quasem has also introduced metal detectors in the factory to make sure stray pins or needles do not get attached to the clothes being sent to exacting buyers like Mother Care which specialises in infant wear.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style110">But it is not just good safety measures or even good quality garments that capture a market that is flooded with competitors. Buyers are more globally conscious, they want environmentally-friendly garments and products that are made through ethical means. Far East and Quality Assured Ltd., both of which Quasem is a director, are together the largest exporter of 'organic garments' that is clothes that are pure, with fibres that are not genetically modified and their manufacture does not involve the use of pesticide or reduction of the water table. The factories also have their own effluent treatment plant, which treats the wastewater from production so that it is less toxic before it is disposed off into the water bodies of the country.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style110" align="center"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2008/04/01/c7.jpg" height="300" width="200" /><br /> <span class="osdn-navtext">A child care centre at the Far East factory in Kaliakor </span> </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style110">The thorniest issue for foreign buyers has been work conditions and age limits of the workers. Customers want to be assured that the product they are buying has not been made with child labour and that the workers have not been exploited. All factories in Bangladesh have to comply with the labour law of 2006, which among other things prohibits child labour and also limits the hours of overtime to two hours. For Quasem and his fellow directors, all the factories they own must be far beyond merely compliance. At Far East and Quality Assured Ltd, the Human Resources Department makes sure that every worker is treated fairly in terms of salary, overtime and other benefits, that workers are not abused in any way and that all complaints from workers are addressed. A woman 'welfare officer' visits each floor regularly to hear out any complaints or problems any worker may have and tries to come up with a satisfactory solution. “Sometimes women workers are shy about telling their male supervisors that they are pregnant,” says Quasem “Here the woman worker can tell the welfare officer who then informs the supervisors so that extra consideration is given to the worker such as extra food, more bathroom breaks, saving her from any heavy work and so on.”</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style110">Bonuses for good performances are constantly given to workers with good performance. Those who have completed three years in the factory get an extra bonus apart from the holiday bonuses.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style110">Quasem and his partners have decided to take it a step further with their upcoming Echotex Ltd which will employ all the ethical and environmental practices even more stringently with a winning formula: a great product, happy workers and an ethical, green factory will make a commercially sound enterprise which in turn will build a future.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style110" align="center"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2008/04/01/c8.jpg" height="277" width="550" /></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style110">Factories like Far East and Quality Assured Ltd may not be representative of the industry as a whole in terms of ethical practices (there are still many small factories with poor, claustrophobic, unsafe work environments) but they do show a definite change in the mindset of garment entrepreneurs. “Private entrepreneurs have started to believe in themselves, that they can strive for something better," says Quasem “and customers are gaining more confidence in our products and our capability of taking care of our people.”</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style110">But even optimists like Quasem and many of his fellow entrepreneurs admit that the 'silent revolution' that they are anticipating is dependent on several factors. One of them is developing a pool of highly skilled workers which are in high demand but low in supply. The head of the International Finance Corporation - SouthAsia Enterprise Development Facility (IFC-SEDF) Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan and the Deputy General Manager, Deepak Adhikary, believes that one of the major factors that need to be addressed is training, coaching and mentoring of the workers and staff. The absence of this is playing a major role in slowing down the progress of the RMG sector in Bangladesh.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style110">In the present scenario, workers are mostly unskilled and uneducated. There are virtually no institutes to train workers so that they have better skills that also result in better paying jobs and greater efficiency.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style110">Adhikary believes that we should have more institutes in the country, where students will receive practical training. Furthermore, he thinks that to reach the 20 billion dollar benchmark, the factory owners need to organise regular training workshops for the employees and the staff. "One has to know by doing," he says. "Lecturers and professors will come and lecture about the market and factories. However, an engineer is basically of no use if he or she has never seen a garment factory, leave alone the operation of the machinery. Therefore, practical knowledge and vocational training is extremely important for the workers."</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style110" align="center"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2008/04/01/c9.jpg" height="317" width="500" /><br /> <span class="osdn-navtext">State-of-the-art machinery like this one at Far East makes thread<br /> and cloth and also dyes it.</span> </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style110">According to him, many factory owners simply overlook the idea of training their employees. "One would have to spend a huge amount of money for training," he explains. "That is why a factory owner is usually satisfied with the fact that he has cheap labour. Then again, a worker sometimes leaves the factory after training, to join another one with better facilities. This is also another reason as to why factory owners do not give a second thought to training their employees and workers."</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style110">Infrastructure, power and good banking facilities are also areas where Bangladesh is lagging behind. Frequent load shedding and poor roads are major obstacles in reducing lead time. Big factories have their own power generators, many of which produce surplus power but there is no system of sharing this extra power. Political stability obviously is also an essential factor for expansion.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style110">"Our competitive markets in India, Pakistan and China are enjoying less interest rate, that is 3%, less bank charges and a very strong infrastructure," says Anwar-ul-Alam Chowdhury (Parves), the President of BGMEA. "For instance, it takes trucks carrying goods at least 8-12 hours to move from Dhaka to Chittagong. We lose a greater deal of time delivering outside the country.”</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style110"><span class="style118">T</span>he declaration of the minimum wage for garment workers has also been a contentious issue. In the wake of painful price hikes of essentials the TK 1662 minimum wage seems way to low to satisfy disgruntled workers.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style110" align="center"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2008/04/01/c10.jpg" height="333" width="500" /><br /> <span class="osdn-navtext">The assembly point for workers at the factory. </span> </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style110">"The workers should be given certain facilities," says the BGMEA President. "For instance, a ration card system, through which the garment workers can at least buy their essentials at a subsided price. Only the government can do this."</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style110">Unfortunately though, Chowdhury believes that successive governments have not been committed enough and that is why these changes will take a long time to come about. "Time and again, we have been asking the government to develop economic zones, which will bring down the living costs of the garment workers tremendously. These zones, or small cities, will have housing facilities, schooling, medical facilities and so on. But the government is not committed and are not serious about this idea. Their policies are still not industry based. This is why, it gets very difficult for us to build a production-driven economy."</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style110">Discrimination against female workers in the sector, in terms of wages, is hardly heard of now according to Nazma Akhter, president of the Sammolito Garments Sromik Federation and the General Secretary of Awaj Foundation, an NGO working for workers' rights. "There are seven grades in a garments factory, where a worker starts off working as a helper in the seventh grade with minimum wage of Tk 1662," the former garment worker explains. "As a worker gets promoted, he or she shifts to a higher grade and accordingly gets a higher salary. Since everything works according to these guidelines, there is hardly any scope of discrimination in terms of wages. However, many workers are not regularly paid their wages. For instance the other day, a worker called to say that she and the others in her factory had not been paid their wages for the last two months. This is a common problem that workers, male or female, face today."</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style110">Sexual harassment of female garment workers by male co-workers has been a long-standing menace. According to Nazma, female workers are now stronger and more confident than they used to be before and have formulated ways to tackle the harassers. Even though regulations within a factory are now very strict where harassment is concerned, this is still a major problem faced by female garment workers.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style110" align="center"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2008/04/01/c11.jpg" height="420" width="300" /><br /> <span class="osdn-navtext">The effluent treatment plant at Far East </span> </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style110">Despite the fact that a large number of female employees work in the garment sector, men still have the upper hand. As a result, it becomes very difficult for women to express their needs. "For instance, there are many factories who still do not have a provision for maternity leaves for female workers," says Nazma. "While some are probably not bothered, the other factories are simply not aware of the fact that the women need the maternity leaves. If the women are given the leave, they would probably be a paid leave for two months and the other two months would be non-paid. Sometimes, even the women themselves are not aware of the fact that it is their right to a four-month paid maternity leave as per the government policy. Some of them even come to us to ask how to apply for the leave."</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style110">"It is very important for the workers to interact with the management," she adds. "That would let both the parties to understand each other and solve the ever-rising problems. Workers need to be trained, educated and updated on a regular basis as well. This is the responsibility of the garment owners. This would also lead to a better level of productivity in the industry. The owners can fund these training programmes and the resources required for the programmes as well. Every year, a good amount goes to welfare, charity and advertisements. Even a small percentage of this amount can be spent on the workers for training and vocational education."</p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="left" border="0" width="69"> <tbody><tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2008/04/01/c3.jpg" height="208" width="150" />Deepak Adhikary emphasises on interaction and connection with the outside world as ways to expand the export market.</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style110"><span class="style118">I</span>n a market that is driven by latest fashion trends that are constantly in transition, Bangladesh has to delve into design development in order to establish original, local brands. Several design institutes have emerged in the industry with foreign and local experts to teach students as well as internships at garment factories. There is therefore a possibility of a substantial pool of designers in the future. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style110">The garments industry also suffers from a dearth of mid-level managers and training for such people is essential to modernising the industry.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style110">Deepak Adhikary also emphasises on how to expand the export market, interaction and connection with the outside world is a natural process. Even remotely isolating oneself will result in huge losses. "Every extra penny that a country earns is due to the strength of the export market in that country," he explains. "Any amount of growth or any change that happens in the RMG sector revolves around the export market. Today, we are competing with export markets in countries like Cambodia, China and Vietnam, where the markets also emphasise on brands. Bangladesh has to aim for brands like Gucci and </p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="51"> <tbody><tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2008/04/01/c2.jpg" height="222" width="150" />Nazma Akhter, fighting for workers' rights</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style110">Prada, even though it does have a niche in places like Wall Mart." </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style110">"Cheap labour used to be a factor," he explains. "Not anymore. Along with cheap labour, the RMG sector here also needs to focus on reducing the lead-time, delivery, accommodating new designs and trends." To build a production driven and export-oriented economy for the RMG sector, one has to prepare for the series of battles that we will have to fight one after the other. "It is like foreseeing a possibility of an earthquake or a tsunami in Bangladesh," he explains. "Even if the natural calamity does not happen, we simply cannot put our forces down. We don't know when we will be gripped by something like this. Similarly, this sector has definitely survived a lot of turmoil like the post MFA, removal of sanction on China by the EU, labour unrest and so on. However, a lot of attention still needs to be given on social and environmental compliance along with productivity improvement along the supply chain." </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style110"><span class="style118">F</span>ew in this industry or connected to it will disagree that the time is ripe for Bangladesh's garment industry to take full advantage of the goodwill it has earned in the international market over the last few decades. All the ingredients for a big bang are there: a huge supply of young, sincere, hardworking and easily trainable workforce, innovative, dynamic entrepreneurs and the ability to maintain high quality of product. A practical industry policy, greater infrastructural support from the government and opportunities for skills development can take our garments sector to unprecedented heights.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style110" align="center"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2008/04/01/c1.jpg" height="229" width="500" /><br /> <span class="osdn-navtext">Smaller factories in the middle of the city continue to have cramped factory floors. </span> </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style110">On the local front, an expansion of the industry in this scale will have a multiplier effect on the economy with a rise in ancillary industries as well as a huge increase in employment, purchasing power and thus a surge in demand for goods and services in our local markets. The idea of more and more people coming out of poverty is certainly an exciting one, which makes the 'silent revolution' theory all the more believable.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style110" align="center"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;" ><b>Copyright (R) thedailystar.net 2008</b></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Volume <strong>7</strong> Issue</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><b> </b></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong><strong><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><b>1</b></span></strong></strong></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong><strong><strong><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><b>4</b></span> | <strong><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >April 4</span></strong></strong></strong><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >,</span></strong><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><strong> 2007</strong> |</span></span></div>Elita Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15708378163417621945noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5036007291687052740.post-91048249454295935812008-02-17T18:52:00.000+06:002008-02-17T18:56:26.904+06:00Achievers of 2004<p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"></span><em>At a time when it has become difficult to count our blessings and have a positive outlook on life, it is crucial for a nation to look for causes to celebrate. As we end 2004, SWM takes a look into this eventful year and selects a number of achievers who have shown that talent combined with determination and hard work can bring about amazing results. These individuals represent the brand of people who have managed to keep the flicker of hope for our country alive and flaming. </em></span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:180%;" ><em>Amrao Pari</em><br /> Abul Khaer and the Emmy</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><br /> Best known for its political instability and natural disasters, Bangladesh has surprised the world when "Amrao Pari" (We, too, Can), a documentary directed, shot and edited by 18 Bangladeshi teenagers has won the 32nd Academy of Television Arts and Science (EMMY) Awards. </span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2004/12/05/cover01.jpg" align="left" height="212" width="300" />Abul Khaer, the protagonist of the documentary, is himself a hero in real life. On an early July morning in 1996, the nine-year-old stopped a passenger train that was approaching a disjointed track at the Boaljhuri Railway Bridge.</span></p> <p> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >"At that time I had 20 ducks and ducklings, which laid around 18 eggs a day. My father was a day labourer and apart from him, these eggs were the only source of income for us. Every day I woke up early in the morning to collect snails and oysters for the ducks," Khaer recalls. While browsing through stones on the rail track, near the Toraghar crossing, Khaer discovered a part of the rail line disjointed. </span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >"I tried to reunite the tracks by hand, but failed," he continues, "Then I realised that the Chittagong bound Antanagar Meghna was going to come within 10 minutes or so." He shouted for help, but no one came. </span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Khaer knew he would be able to stop Antanagar Meghna if he could wave anything red to the driver. The child, who would later drop out from school because of sheer poverty, ran home and brought his aunt's red petticoat. When he went up the track, waving the red cloth, the train was only 200 metres away. </span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >The train, however, stopped. "But the driver was extremely furious," Khaer recalls. "He yelled at me and asked why I was waving a red cloth at the train," Khaer smiles, and looks at the young team that recreated the whole incident on film to win this year's prestigious EMMY. </span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Half the 18 teenagers of the EMMY-winning group were already household names by their participation in ETV's <em>Muktokhobor</em>. When the television channel went off air, these children, along with the programme's producer Rowshon Ara Rukhsana Sirkar Nipa, decided to join ATN.<br /> <br /> "Nipa <em>apa</em> called and told us not to quit filmmaking," Robiul Islam Raju, who went to Boaljhuri, Chandpur, for shooting says. In fact, Mahfujur Rahman, ATN-Bangla's chairperson, grabbed the idea when Nipa submitted her project proposal. </span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >"He immediately approved it and named it <em>Amra Korbo Joy</em>," Nipa says, "Eighteen children, half of whom are underprivileged, work with this programme. And our motto is, 'By children, for children, to everyone'."</span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Broadcast at 6:30 every Friday evening the programme has become an instant hit among the channel's young audience. The children get a monthly allowance of Tk 3,000 each. </span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >"It was Tk 1500 in ETV. Then again we worked only seven days a month at that time. Now we work two weeks in a month," Fateema Akhtar, another cub reporter and a student of Mirpur Technical College, says. "Every month I save something from my allowance and send it to my parents in the village," she continues. </span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >When UNICEF wanted the team to make a documentary for the World Child Broadcasting Day, the group decided to focus on Abul Khaer. Two members of the team, along with their producer and two other adult members went to Khaer's home in Hajiganj to re-enact the incident. </span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Guided by Nipa and other adult members of the ATN staff, the children did most of the direction, cinematography and editing. "We operated the camera and sat with the editor. We took all the editing decision by ourselves," recalls Khairul Amin Nahin, one of the cinematographers of the team. Nahin, a student of Dhaka College, was not in <em>Muktokhobor</em>; he joined <em>Amra Korbo Joy</em> after undergoing a one-month training course. </span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2004/12/05/cover02.jpg" align="right" height="275" width="200" />When it was made, Rezwanul Haque of UNICEF Bangladesh advised the team to send it to International Children Day of Broadcast (ICDB). On 14 October this year, the film was nominated for EMMY-UNICEF Award. The other three documentaries that got nominations in this category were produced by Lao National Television, Walt Disney China and National Television Kenya.</span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >The award was declared on November 22. In the other nine categories, BBC and Channel Four grabbed the most awards and MTV got a special award for its HIV/AIDS campaign. </span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Though the documentary is littered with editing and directional flaws, critics believe it was the film's humane touch that has won it the award. </span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Things, however, had remained unchanged very little for Abul Khaer till the making of <em>Amrao Pari</em>. In 1996, to recognise his bravery, the government gave Abul Khaer a lump-sum amount of Tk 2,500. Though the Chandpur District Administration had promised to give his family an abandoned acre of government land, it has never been kept. The boy had to quit study and all the duck and ducklings the family had raised died too. </span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >When <em>Amra Korbo Joy</em> team came back to Dhaka they told the ATN authorities about Khaer's plight and the channel employed him first as an office peon this year, then as an assistant cameraman.</span></p> <p align="right"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><strong>- Ahmede Hussain</strong></span></p> <hr /> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:180%;" ><em>Aref Chowdhury (Rubel)</em><br /> <span style="font-size:6;">A Young Innovator</span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><br /> For Aref Chowdhury (Rubel), three years as a researcher at Bell Labs was not just another job, it was a life-altering experience through which he earned acclamation within the scientific world. On September 20, 2004, MIT's magazine, Technology Review named Chowdhury one of the top 100 young innovators of the world. Innovators under thirty-five were nominated for their help in transforming the nature of technology and business in industries such as biotechnology, computing and nanotechnology.</span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2004/12/05/cover03.jpg" align="left" height="218" width="150" />Chowdhury, along with his 99 other counterparts was honoured on September 29-30 at Technology Review's 'Emerging Technologies' conference in Cambridge, Massachusetts in the United States, in which the subject of discussions was on the technological innovations that have the potential to fuel new economic growth and change.</span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Chowdhury has a bachelor's degree in Engineering, with Honours in Electrical Engineering and Applied Mathematics and Statistics from the State University of New York, Stonybrook, and a Ph.D in Electrical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. While he was there, Technology Review recognised Chowdhury's work on nonlinear photonic crystals, where he designed and fabricated nonlinear photonic crystals that could be used to switch date between individual wavelengths of light when routing information optically.</span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Bell Labs is the Research and Development division of Lucent Technologies, which designs and delivers the systems, services and software that drive next-generation communications networks. It has played a pivotal role in inventing and perfecting key communications technologies, including transistors, digital networking and signal processing, lasers and fiber-optic communications systems, communications satellites, cellular telephony, electronic switching of calls, touch-tone dialing and modems.</span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Chowdhury's field is nonlinear optics and biochemical detection research. On the prestigious title he has been given, Chowdhury says, "It is a great honour to be recognised, but a lot of the credit goes to my research colleagues. I feel very lucky to work with world-class scientists here at Bell Labs on research that can positively impact Lucent and beyond."</span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Director of Quantum Information and Optics research at Bell Labs, Dick Slusher has some thoughts to share, "Aref is representative of the calibre of a scientist hard at work on problem solving, significant research challenges here at Bell Labs. He joins a great group of Bell Labs alumni that have won this award in previous years and we applaud his accomplishments."</span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Aref Chowdhury's accomplishments serve as a source of inspiration for not only young innovators, but also young Bangladeshis everywhere. He is the living proof that hard work and determination eventually helps one win the race. His work is not only praised by his immediate colleagues and co-workers, but has been recognized internationally as a means to change and transform the future of science and technology, thereby impacting the world we live in positively.</span></p> <p align="right"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><strong>-Srabonti Narmeen Ali</strong></span></p> <hr /> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:180%;" ><em><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2004/12/05/cover04.jpg" align="right" height="250" width="250" />Self-Analysis</em><br /> <span style="font-size:6;">Lipi's Visual Solution</span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><br /> Projecting one's childhood on the canvas is something of a challenge for any artist, as the murky hue of nostalgia always plays havoc with the artistic verve by making it too moody or glum. For Tayeba Begum Lipi, childhood memories serve to express the usual visual verve, as she brings them on to put forward a statement. Childhood, in her work, gets a new lease on life and meets the artist's current self-portrait. This union of the present and the past has fetched Lipi the Grand Prize at the 11th Asian Biennale of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in January 2004.</span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Lipi says her entry into the arts was by accident. Tayeba, after passing out from college in 1986, came to Dhaka to seek admission in the journalism department of the Dhaka University. The moment she entered the walled area of the Institute of Fine Arts, she was taken by the beauty of its setting and environment. Disregarding her parents' advice and shunning her art student brother's outrage, she sat for the entrance examination and was allowed admission.</span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >In 1991, when she was introduced to oil colour in her drawing and painting department her enthusiasm was boosted. "At this point I realised that I would certainly become a painter," exclaims Tayeba remembering her struggle in the early years in the Institute of Fine Arts while trying to find a foothold in the domain of art.</span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Around 1995, she got a chance to attend an artist camp in Nepal. There she met young artists from the subcontinent, and it was at this time that she was introduced to all the different aspects of art. She did a lot of landscapes there, which contributed to her development in handling oil.</span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >As she gradually woke up to the fact that art is not merely confined to the boundary of the frame of a canvas, she felt liberated. Art as an easel painting had been her fixation, but in Nepal her ideas were given a thorough shake, when she had seen young artists experimenting with space and objects defying traditional visual languages. She felt at home with the new mode that tends to extend the border of the very concept of art. </span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >She came back to Dhaka with her enthusiasm enhanced and confidence reinforced. The change that affected her translated into her paintings; she started to put falling and contorted female figures against a vegetation-rich landscape. </span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Though her paintings at that time exteriorised a feeling of outright confidence, they were markedly different from what she would later embark on. In the second part of her Masters of Fine Arts, she had fully realised her goals: it was to formulate a socially relevant language of art. To fulfil that ambition she juxtaposed static female figures that resembled mannequins. She had in mind the emancipation of women. So, it was fashion and trend that became the subject that she poked fun at. Her female forms were depicted frozen alongside the paraphernalia of the <em>dorjee</em>, (tailor) to suggest conformity. </span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >With the language of art, she herself became a nonconformist. In the new millennium, her art boldly tackled ideas that tossed her into the limelight. She started to use her self-portrait, and combined realistically executed paintings with installed objects, human dummies and so on to formulate a voice of socio-political significance. </span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2004/12/05/cover05.jpg" align="left" height="188" width="200" />Lipi likes to believe that her sojourn in Ireland had created opportunities she otherwise might have overlooked. She was awarded residency for three months. "My ideas reached maturity in Ireland as I was exposed to a lot of stimulation and I also had the time to generate ideas of my own," says Tayeba. In a show by Lipi and her artist husband in 2002, Tayeba's Toy Watching Toys was all the rage, where her three big realistic portraits were presented vis-a-vis <em>burkha-</em>clad dummies fashioned after herself. In the last solo that she called "Even The Walls Have Ears", she mixed together video installation with two-dimensional images. </span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Tayeba had to struggle in real life to overcome financial snags. Since the beginning, she and her husband took up art as their only pursuit, now the two shepherd an organisation named <em>Britto</em>. At present she remains at the helm of this artists' trust as its director. As for her fight to overcome personal obstacles, it is intrinsically bound with her struggle to find an artistic language of her own. Currently she has been awarded a year round Scholarship from the Artist Aminul Islam Trust. Throughout her journey she carries all the emotional baggage that make up her personality. Perhaps that is how she so easily confronts her self-portraits in the form of her work.</span></p> <p align="right"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><strong>-Mustafa Zaman</strong></span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:180%;" ><em>Abdullah Abu Sayeed</em><br /> <span style="font-size:6;">An Enlightened Man Recognised</span> </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><br /> </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:180%;" ><em><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2004/12/05/cover06.jpg" align="right" height="254" width="175" /></em></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" > Litterateur cum teacher cum television presenter Abdullah Abu Sayeed hardly needs an introduction. While he has a strong claim of eminence in all of these fields, his most enduring creation is the <em>Biswa Shahitya Kendra</em> (The Centre of World Literature). Since the early seventies, Sayeed has led nothing less than a revolution with <em>Alokito Manush Chai</em> (Creating Enlightened Individuals), a mission he has been pursuing for the last three decades. </span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Professor Sayeed's remarkable work has won him many accolades besides his disciples' respect, but this year he brought both for himself and Bangladesh a unique honour when he won the prestigious Ramon Magasaysay Award 2004, also dubbed as the Nobel in Asia. In its citation the Ramon Magasaysay Foundation emphasised Sayeed's "contributions to his cultivating in the youth of Bangladesh a love for literature and its humanising values through exposure to great books of Bangladesh and the world". Besides, his contributions to journalism, literature and creative communication arts were also mentioned in the citation when Prof Sayeed accepted the award in an elaborate ceremony in Manila, the capital of the Philippines.</span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2004/12/05/cover07.jpg" align="left" height="210" width="150" />Professor Sayeed believes that a good book contains thoughts, dreams, visions, beauties and all the precious things mankind has created both in the past and the present, so by exposing young people to the greatest books of the world he wanted to create "The Enlightened Individual" for which he has devoted all his energies. The <em>Biswa Sahitya Kendra</em> with its amazing collection of books both Bangla and Bangla translation of many world masterpieces have contributed to the intellectual upbringing of an entire generation of youth, but, more importantly, he has succeeded in reviving the almost dying culture of reading among young people. BSK is not just a library where one goes to read books, it has also developed a network among many of the schools across the country so that students of those particular schools have access to the BSK collections. The centre has also initiated mobile libraries, the first of its kind in the country, which go to different specified places in the city following a particular schedule, thus allowing interested readers, who cannot make it to the library, to borrow books virtually from their doorsteps. Though BSK's principal focus is on reading books it also arranges workshops on filmmaking, photography, creative writing etc and organises film shows and a variety of cultural shows for of the intellectual development of the youths.</span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Youthful even at 60 plus, Sayeed's energy is still in great supply. He can often be spotted in the front line of a small procession holding banners that read "Save the Buriganga" or "Want Safe streets" or "Beware of the Deadly Dengue". In spite of his stringent daily routine he has time to take the streets for a good cause or utilise his celebrity status to create mass awareness about anything that will benefit people. </span></p> <p align="right"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><strong>-Shamim Ahsan</strong></span></p> <hr /> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:180%;" ><em><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2004/12/05/cover08.jpg" align="left" height="182" width="300" />Mohammad Ashraful</em><br /> <span style="font-size:6;">The Cricketing Sensation </span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><br /> Cricket is a game that requires a touch of skill, a dash of talent, a fistful of determination and a bucket of hard work. These are the essential ingredients of being an international star in the realm of cricket and Mohammad Ashraful is an upcoming talent who has all this and more. Ashraful was born on 9th September, 1984 in Dhaka. Making a name in the cricketing arena, he made history by becoming the youngest man, or boy, ever to score a century in Test Cricket at the tender age of sixteen. This was the fastest hundred for any Bangladeshi and more so, it was his debut against match against Sri Lanka. He shared the Man-of-the-Match award with Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan that day. But life was not always so. He started his career at a very young stage, a leg spinner who was also good at batting. He soon joined the under 19 team and from there, quickly shot up to the Bangladesh national team. Since then, every minute has been a sensational adventure. Ashraful is an aggressive middle order batsman and is one of the shining stars of Bangladesh cricket. After Bangladesh's tour of Sri Lanka in 2002 Ashraful was benched for quite sometime. However, after his undisputed contribution of 108 in the Patron's Trophy for Bangladesh "A", Ashraful was back into the national team. In his comeback match he scored a remarkable 98, only to be undone by the magical bowling of Heath Streak.</span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2004/12/05/cover09.jpg" align="right" height="349" width="220" />Ashraful, still in his learning stage, is now a talented batsman. He has made a reputation of playing all kinds of shots in the book but has a knack of throwing away his wickets at odd times. The only thing to account for this is his youthful impulsiveness. He showed what he was made of this December 2004, when he scored his second century - a colossal 158 not out - against the Indian cricket team during their tour of Bangladesh. Ashraful now holds the record for the highest individual test score by any Bangladeshi. It was an inning of rare brilliance for Ashraful, a milestone in his career. He had won the battle but the war was lost, as Bangladesh lost to India that day.</span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Sunday night on December 26 was a night to rejoice as the Bangladesh side wrote a new chapter in their history. They took on the visiting Indian team in the second ODI and won. Mohammad Ashraful gave a stunning performance whacking two sixes and one four in a fine 28 runs off 48 balls. This was their first victory on home turf and it came on their 100th ODI. The whole stadium exploded with not just the audience there, but also the millions on television all over the country, backing their team as they inched their way to victory.</span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Ashraful is the 'new kid on the block' and he is here to shake things up.</span></p> <p align="right"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><strong>-Imran H. Khan</strong></span></p> <hr /> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:180%;" ><em><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2004/12/05/cover10.jpg" align="left" height="251" width="200" />Momtaz</em><br /> <span style="font-size:6;">The Music Queen</span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><br /> Hers is not the typical Bangali woman's soft, mellow voice, it's rather slightly on the rough, husky side. The lyrics of her songs are not exactly refined, but often colloquial, sometimes even rustic. But it is with that unconventional combination that she achieves a distinct quality that the audience finds irresistible. Her strength doesn't lie in the soothing effect on the ear, rather she kind of stirs up the audience's heart and demands their response. Thus when she comes on stage the audience goes into a frenzy and when she sings out the audience invariably joins in chorus. Her infectious charm and undeniable talent has made her one of the most popular entertainers of the country. With an unbelievable 600 audio albums to her credit she is unarguably the most adored singer of the country. At a time when band musicians are the craze in live concert shows she is indeed the biggest crowd puller. </span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Mumtaz Begum's initiation into music occurred early. She was a mere child when she accompanied her singer father Modhu Boyati at first as an audience but very soon as a co-performer. Her father aside Matal Razzaque Dewan was another of her guru who she considers her mentor. She took to music almost unknowingly, but then she must have dipped deep into the sea of music and come out intoxicated, for ever. She never looked back again and never even distantly thought of doing something different. The kind of music she used to perform like Marfati, Boithoki, Murshidi can roughly fall under the genre of mystic songs. </span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >It was not always rosy though. There were also occasions when she did albums entirely free of cost and when those albums became popular the producer offered her Tk 2,000, not for the ones she had already done, but for the one she would do next. That too on the condition that if it didn't sell well she would be bound to pay the honorarium back. Mumtaz didn't have to pay back-- the album sold out instantly and suddenly Mumtaz became extremely busy. At times she was recording two albums a day. "I used to be handed down the lyrics and the music tracks minutes ago and there used to be hardly any time for rehearsal and I had to record it at one go," she reveals in an interview with the Daily Star last May. Some of her most famous music albums include Return Ticket, Ashol Boithoki, Murshider Talim, Ronger Bazar etc. </span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Though Mumtaz sings other varieties than those of mystic songs her concentration remains there. One of Mumtaz's great achievements has been to broaden the audience base of mystic songs which has been largely confined to rural areas and rural people. And most surprisingly today's middle class urbanite youths also make a part of her fans. </span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >As a person Mumtaz is a woman of great kindness who is ever ready to extend a helping hand to people who come to her. She was an active supporter in the establishment of an eye hospital in her native Shingair village.</span></p> <p align="right"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><strong>- Shamim Ahsan</strong></span></p> <hr /> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:180%;" ><em><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2004/12/05/cover11.jpg" align="right" height="286" width="200" />Asheque Elahi Shams</em><br /> <span style="font-size:6;">Acting the O's</span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><br /> “Getting an 'A' in Bangla was a big shock for me!" exclaims Asheque. The tall and slim youngster with black rimmed glasses seemed very indifferent to the fact that he actually got a total of 11 'A's in his O level examinations held in the year 2004, the highest this year and the second highest so far, after Rezwan Haque, who got a total of 12 'A's in 2003, the highest in the world. A student of South Breeze School, Dhaka, Asheque Elahi Shams made his family, friends and school proud with his outstanding results, and clinched the Daily Star Award as well. </span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Asheque had taken on a total of 11 subjects in two sittings, comprising of Bangla, English, Economics, Accounting, Computing, Commerce, Pure Math, Biology, English, Chemistry and Physics. "I was terrified during my Bangla exam and was really bewildered with the result actually," says Asheque. "I had never really done all that well in my mock exams at school and truly speaking, never had much hope in Bangla, especially grammar. I had registered for some of the subjects just a month or so before the exam," he goes on. "I had major problems with my project in Computing and never realised that I would get an 'A' in it."</span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Asheque claims to be an average student, just like any other from his class. "I am actually very lazy and simply cannot think of studying for hours at a stretch," says Asheque, revealing his study secrets. "I did everything at the very last moment and never really went to all the trouble of studying beforehand. I did take extra help and would go for tuition for certain subjects. However, I also watched a lot of TV, watched movies and had fun as well. I think studying right in the end helped me remember everything." </span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Did he feel absolutely delighted with his results and the fact that he had the highest score this year? "Not really," he replies. "Everyone in my class got all 'A's in the subjects they registered for. In fact, I think this year we had some of the best students in the batch. Though I did feel happy about my grades, since they will help me get into a good college now."</span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Asheque is now working hard for his A-levels and looks forward to studying in Princeton University. "I do plan to com back to my country after my studies," informs Asheque. "I hope everyone does, for that matter."</span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><strong>- Elita Karim</strong></span></p> <p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;" ><b>Copyright (R) thedailystar.net 2004</b></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Volume <b>4</b> Issue<b> 27</b></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">| <span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >December<strong> 31</strong></span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><strong>, 2004</strong> |</span></span> </div>Elita Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15708378163417621945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5036007291687052740.post-88613249662621250282008-02-17T18:50:00.000+06:002008-02-17T18:52:30.785+06:00Tona Tuni's latest venture with children<span style="font-style: italic;" class="newspath">Culture<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">A new edition of children's books by Tona Tuni is like a fresh ray of sunlight for the tiny book lovers adding fresh joy to their innocent dreams tumbling by. Tona Tuni came up with two editions for little children, namely </span><i style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Esho Gunte Shikhi</i><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> and </span><i style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Choray Bornomala</i><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> at the Ekushey Book Fair this year.</span><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Each of these books, accompanied with a VCD, is filled with colours and also substances from our culture to make a child capable of relating to what he/she learns. <i>Chhoray Bornomala</i> is a descriptive illustration of all the letters in the Bangla language. Each of these letters has been done in different colours with a <i>chhora</i> (a rhyme) to make the learning more simple and fun for the child. </p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><i>Esho Gunte Shikhi</i> is a number book, where children can learn the numerals in the Bangla language. They are also taught how to count and add. </p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Both the books come with video CDs, which upon watching and listening to, a child will be able to develop not only number and writing skills but also sense of recognition of the surroundings, names of birds, fruits, animals and many other elements of the Bangladeshi culture.</p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Some of the rhymes, where animals and fishes have been made to talk, are good effort to expand the imaginative intuition of a child. Funny quips like a fussy old woman and a new bride dressed in red carrying water have also been used to depict the village scenes.</p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Tona Tuni has been educating children for generations now. Many households in the country have made Tona Tuni a part of their family not only as bedtime stories but also as effective means to educate their children.</p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </p> <a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="http://www.thedailystar.net/2004/03/06/d403061401104p.htm"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/2004/03/06/2004-03-06__cul01.jpg" alt="Picture" valign="TOP" border="0" width="120" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="caption">The cover jacket of the book<br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" > Sat. March 06, 2004</span></div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="caption"></span>Elita Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15708378163417621945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5036007291687052740.post-44771893228309185562008-02-17T18:43:00.000+06:002008-02-17T18:50:19.813+06:00'Oh dear, Oh dear, I'll be too late!' cried the White Rabbit<table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="newsdetails" valign="top"><span class="newspath"><span style="font-style: italic;">Culture</span><br /></span><span class="subhead">Alice lands in Scholastica</span><br /><br /><br />Alice, the famous character from the fairy tale 'Alice in Wonderland', came to Dhaka recently. Bringing this well loved children's story to the stage was Scholastica School, Uttara The packed STM Hall, where the play was held, brought together an audience comprising students, diplomats, parents and teachers.<p>The students of the senior section of Scholastica School presented a musical version of the children's literary classic by Lewis Carroll. The play was directed by Azad Abul Kalam, and was assisted by Kazi Tawfikul Islam Emon and other drama teachers of the school. The most significant feature of this overwhelming play was that the production was designed and executed by the teachers along with the students of the institution. </p><p>The Chairperson of the Board of Management of the school, Yasmeen Murshed, thanked the production team consisting of the music team, the singing choir, the choreographers and the stage designers who had worked extremely hard to make the production a huge success. The crew mainly comprised students who had to practice regularly as well as cope with the academic pressure.</p><p>The special guest was the US Ambassador to Bangladesh, Harry K Thomas, who had begun with a greeting in Bangla, eventually switching on to English. In his words, 'Education is complete only with the development of the souls and personalities of children. Children feel secure and confident enough to face the many realities of the world through teamwork and extra curricular activities.' </p><p>The colourful sets, costumes, the innovative props and the enthusiastic acting of the students of the senior section of Scholastica School, brought all the fabulous creatures of Alice's Wonderland to life. Alice, played by Shazreh Ahmed, displayed an unbelievable amount of strength and creativity, when she somehow popped into a strange land full of extraordinary beings, talking animals, walking-breathing packs of cards and popular characters from the nursery rhymes. </p><p>There were some variations in the Scholastica version of <i>Alice in Wonderland</i>. According to this version, it was a hot summer afternoon, when ten-year-old Alice and her sisters were sitting by the river with Mr Dodgson begging him to tell them a story. Once Mr Dodgson began his story, Alice suddenly saw a White Rabbit dressed in a tweed jacket with a watch in his hand scurrying by, shouting, 'Oh dear, Oh dear, I'll be too late!' Alice's adventures thus began once she jumped into the hole after the rabbit.</p><p>The spectators immensely enjoyed Alice's encounter with Humpty Dumpty, who was actually sitting on the wall, much to Alice's amazement. 'You'll fall off and break yourself. All the King's horses and men wouldn't be able to put you together you know!' cried Alice to the legendary egg. </p><p>Throughout her journey in Wonderland, Alice met many of its crazy inhabitants, for instance The Mad Hatter, according to whom, time had stopped exactly at Tea-Time, 6:00 pm in the evening. He along with the Hare and ever-sleepy Mouse were drinking tea in oversized cups and pouring out more from even larger tea pots. The little mouse,much to everyone's delight, sqeaked out every word. The famous Cheshire Cat was also there to greet Alice with his big grin and clever talk. Right at the end, Alice got a chance to be in a trial, where the Queen of Hearts declared her famous line 'Off with their heads!' to just about every subject in her land. The trial was about the Knave of Hearts who had stolen the tarts made by the Queen one fine afternoon.</p><p>The audience was awe-struck not only by the excellent acting skills shown by the young children, but also the décor of the stage, the clever and colourful props and also the stage set. They were undoubtedly enchanted with the magical happenings on stage, transporting themselves to Wonderland. The professionalism shown by these amateur youngsters was remarkable. </p><p>Many parents remarked that schools would do well to give more attention to the role of extra curricular activities as a nece-sssary element of education. As Ambassador Thomas pointed out to each parent in the audience, 'All over the world, we speak one language and that is take care of your children.'</p><div style="text-align: center;"> Mon. March 15, 2004</div></td> <td align="right" valign="top" width="180"> <a href="http://www.thedailystar.net/2004/03/15/d403151401109p.htm"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/2004/03/15/2004-03-15__cul01.jpg" alt="Picture" valign="TOP" border="0" width="120" /></a><br /><span class="caption">The Queen of Hearts playing croquet</span> </td> </tr> </tbody></table>Elita Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15708378163417621945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5036007291687052740.post-63475728133886611002008-02-17T18:40:00.000+06:002008-02-17T18:43:48.762+06:00A Tale of Conceit and Deceit<span class="style27"><span class="style44"> </span></span> <p class="style16 style49">Even after President Iajuddin Ahmed, frail and enfeebled at 76, has been sworn in as the Chief of the caretaker government (CCG), the spectre of death looms large over Bangladesh's political horizon. He and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) faithfuls say that as the talks between warring political parties have failed and all the constitutional options have been exhausted he has to assume power to save the country from further bloodshed. But beneath this veneer of seemingly benign intentions stands a pack of lies and deceptions. The President did not <span class="style55"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2006/11/01/cover01.jpg" align="right" height="237" width="300" /></span>properly explore all the plausible options of the constitution as he now claims to have done, but instead, this former professor of Dhaka University has played into the hands of, what it now seems, the BNP's long standing plan to rig the next general elections. </p> <p class="style55">In the face of a presidential takeover, the Awami League (AL) has given Iajuddin four days to prove his neutrality; the party has also laid down an 11-point demand on the table of the ailing President, which include: the removal of three election commissioners and correction and revision of the voter list. </p> <p class="style55">If these demands are not met, the AL has warned to go back to the streets. The country's hard-earned democracy is under threat, and there is a fear that further trouble lies ahead for this poor nation of fourteen crore people. </p> <p class="style55 style64"> <span class="style16 unnamed2"><strong>Ahmede Hussain </strong></span> </p> <p class="style16"><span class="style56">D</span>haka, last Friday night, resembled civil war torn Beirut in the eighties. The Prime Minister Khaleda Zia gave a speech to the nation at seven in the evening and immediately after it ended machete and oar-wielding opposition workers poured onto the streets of the capital in their thousands. Khaleda claimed normalcy and gloated over her government's “glorious five-year rule” as the country quickly slipped into chaos and lawlessness. A faint column of smoke rose first near Dhanmandi from a bus that had been burnt and quickly turned into a mangled corpse of charred steel; after this, as though after the first blood of the war was drawn, the war formally declared, opposition workers, with renewed vigour, turned to every other moving vehicle on the roads; buses were burned, shops were looted, innocent passers-by, mostly women, returning to the city after holidaying, were robbed near Kanchpur. At zero hour, goons belonging to the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), riding a microbus and armed with automatic rifles, shot and maimed 40 opposition workers, who were organising themselves for the next-day's rally. The old part of the city, even before Khaleda's fustian speech began, had turned into a battlefield; boys as young as ten or eleven, belonging to Nasiruddin Pintu of the BNP and Haji Selim of the Awami League (AL), took the rivalry into a new height; rival groups' houses and businesses were torched, women were harassed; throughout the night, like the other half of the city, mobs of different colour and hue were on the prowl. Homes of BNP leaders across the country were attacked by the AL leaders, and on different occasions by the BNP's own disgruntled factions.</p> <p class="style16">On this gory and ruthless night and the day that followed 20 people were killed all over the country. Saturday had witnessed even worse incidents of violence. In the capital, the bone of contention was the control of Paltan Maidan, where both the opposition parties and the workers' wing of the BNP called a meeting. BNP-men were not seen venturing into the ground, instead Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) workers and the opposition fought a savage battle near Baitul Mukarram National Mosque; at one point of the fight the JI, which actively opposed Bangladesh's independence by carrying out numerous acts of rape and mass murder, introduced guns into what would have otherwise been a pitched battle. “Allah-hu-Akbar (Allah is the Greatest),” a loudspeaker blared while JI-men fired 20 rounds of bullets at AL-workers who had so far been using oars and brickbats. It took the night to descend and paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles to join hands with an outnumbered and withdrawn police force to restore some semblance of peace in the area, but before that four had died and a hundred were already maimed.</p> <p class="style16">Not far away from the pandemonium, at her party headquarters, to a small audience of about two thousand followers, Khaleda declared that she would follow whatever decision the President made: a good hint for anyone who has been following the events closely.</p> <p class="style16" align="center"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2006/11/01/cover02.jpg" height="346" width="550" /><br /> <span class="osdn-navtext">President Iajuddin Ahmed taking oath as the Chief of the Caretaker Government in a hurriedly organised ceremony</span></p> <p class="style16"><em>Words, words, words</em></p> <p class="style16"><span class="style56">T</span>he talks that have failed, on the pretext of which the President has appointed himself as the Chief of caretaker government (CCG) are one of sorest and disreputable episodes in Bangladesh's political history. </p> <p class="style16">A long-running controversy has taken birth a few years ago when Judge KM Hasan, former foreign affairs secretary of the BNP and one-time nomination seeker of the party, was made the Chief Justice (CJ). Many smelled a rat when the government suddenly extended the term of Supreme Court judges, making Hasan the last retired CJ available. The opposition made protests, and declared not to go to any election held under any government led by him; the BNP talked about following the constitution, which they themselves had tailor-made to make a likeminded person the CCG. The issue of Hasan's political past has never been discussed in parliament; instead, at the beginning of this year, the secretaries general of both parties swapped letters, as many as eight times, to discuss the possibilities of a reform in the electoral process; the seven round of talks that came out of the letter-swapping were shady, as murky as these two politicians could have made it to be. The tone and the mood were strikingly similar-- Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan of the BNP, in a black suit, wearing an always-ready-to-smile face, Abdul Jalil of the AL, a seemingly weather-beaten, throwing a puckered smile at everyone in sight-- "We have made significant breakthrough. We are hopeful to give the nation a good piece of news before Eid.”-- Either of them could have been passed on to have said this to the anxiously sweating newspersons waiting outside, sometimes, just to get a glimpse of the duo.</p> <p class="style16">Trouble began when, three days before Eid, both Bhuiyan and Jalil came out of the venue within ten minutes into their discussion with sealed lips-- "Let's see what happens,” Bhuiyan declared; Jalil, uncharacteristically reticent and irritable, “Not now…not now,” he said as his car rolled on. That night the BBC scooped its rivals by airing the news that both the politicians did not care to let their nervous countrymen know-- "At the ongoing talks the BNP has proposed the name of MA Aziz as a substitute to Hasan”; this was a piece of nerve-wrecking information, which effectually meant that the last chance of breaking the stalemate had fallen apart. The next day, the day before Eid, Mannan Bhuiyan broke the news--"The BNP does not think it is possible to replace KM Hasan with anyone else as it is unconstitutional”. This spelled disaster for the ordinary citizens as the Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina had already urged “people come to Dhaka with oars and sticks if power is handed over to KM Hasan”.</p> <p class="style16">Justice KM Hasan, meanwhile, remained silent, and it has needed a violent eruption of people's angst and frustration, 20 people have to die to make this retired judge realise that “for the greater benefit of the nation”, he, KM Hasan, a good citizen, should not become the CCG.</p> <p class="style16" align="center"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2006/11/01/cover03.jpg" height="123" width="560" /><br /> <span class="osdn-navtext">Scenes of mayhem: Activists of the 14- party alliance set fire at various points in the city; riot police swoop on the activists; workers of the 14 party alliance carry off a fellow activist who was shot in head during clashes with Jamaat activists</span></p> <p class="style16"><em>The Farce that has been enacted</em></p> <p class="style16"><span class="style56">A</span>fter the discussions failed, the parliament expired its terms, mayhem followed and KM Hasan declined to become the CCG, the President has stepped into the ring; he started his own talks with the leaders of different political parties and in the first meeting declared his own willingness to be the Chief of the caretaker government. It came as a surprise to everyone because all the other options set out by the constitution were not exhausted yet -- The AL did not want MA Aziz, who has already earned a name for being controversial and partisan; without giving any reason, the BNP and JI for their part said they had a problem with Mahmudul Amin Chowdhury, another retired judge, becoming the head of the new government.</p> <p class="style16">Controversy arose and Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, the BNP secretary general, played foul with the issue; to the press Bhuiyan lied by saying that Hamidul Huq, another retired judge and second in line to be the CCG, had expressed his inability to take over; but the following morning the retired judge told a private television channel that it was not the case-- "I am available if all the parties involved come to a concensus about me."</p> <p class="style16">The Clause 58C (5) of the constitution says, " If no retired judge of the Appellate Division is available or willing to hold the office of Chief Adviser, the President shall, after consultation, as far as practicable, with the major political parties, appoint the Chief Adviser from among citizens of Bangladesh who are qualified to be appointed as Advisers under this article."</p> <p class="style16">That the President has to assume power means that no one qualified to be the Chief Adviser has been found among the citizens of Bangladesh, which is ludicrous and laughable.</p> <p class="style16"><em>Iajuddin's magic draught</em></p> <p class="style16"><span class="style56">T</span>his is the same Iajuddin Ahmed, whose ill-health and the mystery surrounding it created a world of intrigue not more than six months ago. The President had been taken ill, the press were told, but a thick veil of secrecy was drawn around Iajuddin, who the government said had suffered a "massive heart attack". The President, after the "massive" heart attack, went to the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka, and walked down the asphalted road and concreted corridor to get admitted; he was later flown into Singapore and Jamiruddin Sirkar, the Speaker and a BNP faithful was made the acting President, and for a long time, even after Iajuddin came back to the country and seemed well enough to perform his duties, Jamiruddin carried on with his "extended role" as the acting President. Not to mention that the BNP, at that time, had already grown a habit of changing Presidents; Badruddoza Chowdhury, once elected the head of the state by the BNP, only a year into his job, was removed overnight; no reason was given, and Chowdhury, who now heads his own party, refuses to talk much about it.</p> <p class="style16">For about a month, effectually, there were two Presidents-- Iajuddin and Jamiruddin. Rumours ran wild when some younger MPs of the BNP-- the so-called young Turks-- demanded the removal of Iajuddin on the grounds that his health did not allow him to perform the day-to-day duties of presidency. It was clear that his own party did not want him to remain President, especially with the next general elections in the offing. A more loyal and workable Jamiruddin Sirkar was wanted and the party, later on, grudgingly made do with Iajuddin because of the huge uproar that was made when the party tried to dump him.</p> <p class="style16">Has the President, so weak only six months ago that he was finding it increasingly difficult to perform as a titular head-- has that same Iajuddin Ahmed taken a magic tablet that he will hold not one but two most important posts at the same time, and will not make a blunder? Even when he has long passed the standard age for retirement?</p> <p class="style16"><em>Waiting for the Barbarians?</em></p> <p class="style16"><span class="style56">T</span>he Awami League has failed to stand up to the occasions when the day of reckoning has arrived. The party, while the secretary-general level talks were going on, never disclosed the day-to-day outcome of the discussions. By making KM Hasan the centre of their demands, the party has actually played into the hands of the BNP. The AL has thrown all its attentions and might on the appointment of KM Hasan as the CCG, downplaying its previous, and more important demands for the reform of the caretaker government system.</p> <p class="style16">Last Friday and Saturday, when the whole nation was anxiously waiting for a vision of the future, for a guideline, the Awami League could not come up with any. Sheikh Hasina, who has led the first government of the country's history to complete its full five-year term, starting from 1996 to 2001, has never shown a way out of this anarchy, instead she fomented more violence by calling her followers to "seize the capital with sticks and oars".</p> <p class="style16">Signs are there that the BNP leadership has always toyed with the idea of eventually making the President the CCG. The BNP has done everything it can to rig the next general elections-- a stooge like MA Aziz and Khaleda minions like Mahfuzur Rahman and SM Zakaria have been made Election Commissioners, the party has planted its own members onto different layers of the judiciary and administration.</p> <p class="style16">But signs are there, too, that the BNP, which along with its zealot and corrupt partners have enjoyed an absolute majority in the last parliament, may not even get the single majority needed to return to power. The BNP leaders, most of whom are mired in corruption and political scandals, it seems, are aware of this. The party is desperately trying to cling onto power no matter what; on Sunday, the day Iajuddin nominated himself as the CCG, Dhaka was abuzz with rumours of military takeover; there were idle speculations that a state of emergency might be declared. Who fed on these gossips and where they generated from one cannot tell, but these paved the way for the President to become the CCG. The rumours that a martial law can be imposed, that we are going back to the Stone Age, have been deliberately spread.</p> <p class="style16" align="center"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2006/11/01/cover04.jpg" height="348" width="550" /><br /> <span class="osdn-navtext">A declaration of war. Armies of the 14-party alliance and Jamaat-e-Islami get ready for another round of brick batting in Paltan on October 28</span></p> <p class="style16">It is surprising; shocking almost that the party that has so overwhelmingly won the elections only five years ago is now frightened to face the voters this time round. The level of corruption and misrule of the BNP's last term can only be compared to the forlorn days of 1972-75 when different armed gangs and the then Prime Minister's sons indulged themselves in a world of corruption and degeneration.</p> <p class="style16">By playing foul with the constitution and thus undermining our hard-earned democratic process, the BNP, has, in effect, dug its own political grave. And with the advent of the BNP's own breakaway faction the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), and its increasing popularity in BNP bastions like Chittagong, the BNP has reasons to get scared. Iajuddin's appointment as the CCG is unlikely to change the situation, on the contrary, it may as well, spell an even bigger disaster for Bangladesh, if Iajuddin, a retired Professor of Soil Science turned President turned Chief of Caretaker government fails to govern.</p> <p class="style16 style57"><a name="01"></a>Khaleda's Balance Sheet </p> <p class="style16"><em>Five years after being voted to power, what legacy is Khaleda Zia and her Four-Party Alliance (FPA) leaving behind? </em></p> <p class="style16"><strong>Ahmede Hussain </strong></p> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="200"> <tbody><tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2006/11/01/cover05.jpg" height="211" width="300" />Khaleda Zia speaking to the nation on October 27</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="style16"><span class="style56">O</span>f the pledges that the FPA has made before coming to power in 2001, hardly anything substantial has been fulfilled. The long overdue separation of the judiciary, which both the major parties have promised to do 15 years ago, immediately after the ouster of Gen HM Ershad, hangs in limbo. The FPA government, particularly its law minister Moudud Ahmed, who is especially known as politically corrupt, has so far given numerous excuses for the sorry state of the country's judiciary. Instead of giving it independence, Khaleda has effectually ravished the country's judiciary, especially the lower one, by employing one BNP-man after another; cases of judges taking inducements have remained an all time high during the last government's tenure.</p> <p class="style16">About the autonomy of the government-controlled Bangladesh Betar and Television, the information minister has never uttered a single word; on the contrary these two organisations have been made the FPA-government's own propaganda machine; Fascist Hitler's Nazi information minister Paul Joseph Goebbels believed that a lie becomes a truth if it is said a hundred times; Khaleda's information minister and his cronies in Bangladesh Betar (BB) and Television (BTV), taking Goebbels's suggestion too seriously aired lies, one pack after another, blatantly, with a straight face, as many times as they could. These seemingly educated people, who are still not in the helm of these two bodies act as though general people of this country are a bunch of idiots who can be taken for a ride whenever they want to. In her last speech to the nation, Khaleda rightly said that the AL government during its tenure had made the BTV and BB a particular family's eulogy-producing device. True though she is, if anyone has watched BTV or BB in Khaleda's time will have thought Bangladesh is a hereditary monarchy, where only the Queen (Khaleda) and, the heir to the throne (Tareque Rahman) and his chums are allowed to show their faces on the idiot box. Ekushey Television, the first independent private channel in the country was taken off the air in Khaleda's rule as it lost an appeal in the Supreme Court.</p> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="135"> <tbody><tr> <td class="osdn-navtext" width="135"><div align="right"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2006/11/01/cover06.jpg" height="200" width="135" />Ershad seems to have been won over by the four-party coalition</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="style16">Dhaka-based newspapers, on the other hand, have enjoyed a relative freedom; at the same time different BNP-men have lodged several criminal and defamation lawsuits against editors, publishers and reporters of different dailies. No verdict has so far come out of these cases, most of which are made only to harass journalists. The situation has been worse for journalists living outside the capital, particularly those who live in the northeastern Bangladesh, where thugs and goons have been butchering innocent people. In Khaleda's five-year-rule journalists were killed in Khulna, Barisal, Nator, Kushtia and Bogra; the list of other types of attacks on journalists like maiming or beating is endless. Khaleda Zia's full term in office has made the whole Bangladesh a prison for those who believe in free speech. Humayun Azad, the country's leading linguist and novelist was hacked at a book fair in Dhaka for writing a novel Pak SarJamin Sad Bad, and over two months later the author died in Germany. Azad's killers have not been brought to book; interestingly it was Jamaat-e-Islami MP Delwar Hossain Saidee, after its publication, in the parliament who demanded the book's banning. When it comes to clamping down on free speech, Saidee-- who actively opposed Bangladesh's independence war and had carried out numerous acts of rape and mass murder in that period-- has remained an ardent advocate. In Khaleda's “glorious rule”, this caitiff fanatic has once demanded that a blood test for all journalists be arranged to see if they are proper Muslims or not. Even after all this Saidee has remained a free man, only a few days ago he used to sit in the Treasure Bench, not far away from where Khaleda herself sat.</p> <p class="style16">So it is no wonder that during her tenure the country has witnessed the worst instances of attack on free speech and religious freedom. Immediately after the FPA came to power thousands of homes and businesses owned by the country's Hindus were burned and looted; some Hindu women were raped by Khaleda's boys and many Hindu families were forced to flee the country, selling the properties of their ancestors to Shaheed Zia's soldiers.</p> <p class="style16">At the fag end of Khaleda's rule, the lives and properties of minority Ahmadyyas have also come under beastly attack from the fanatics. In different parts of the country their places of worship have been desecrated.</p> <p class="style16"><span class="style56">I</span>n spite of these, the biggest crime the Khaleda-led government has committed on this nation is the creation of a culture of sheer misrule and unabated corruption. Several stories of corruption of Khaleda Zia's own son Tareque Rahman have been in circulation. From an offer to the Malaysian government to invest millions of dollars in that country to taking a 25 percent commission from every new business contract signed-- Tareque Zia's name has been everywhere. Tareque himself, and, not to mention his mother Khaleda, summarily deny it. The Anti Corruption Commission that has been formed with much hype and hoopla has so far produced practically nothing. In her speech to the nation, Khaleda has accepted the presence of rampant corruption in her government; though she has apologetically termed it unfortunate, this admission, this acceptance of failure to keep the so-called Young Turks (an euphemism for Tareque and his cronies) under control, will not go down well to the electorate.</p> <p class="style16">Standard of living in Khaleda's term has plummeted sharply; though her government has boasted a good foreign currency reserve, real income of the ordinary citizens, actually declined in the last five years, because of rising inflation, which according to unofficial estimates is at eight per cent a year. Though the BNP has claimed to have led a nationalist government, many of its members, particularly those living in the border areas, have indulged themselves in smuggling of essentials to and from India.</p> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="200"> <tbody><tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2006/11/01/cover07.jpg" height="232" width="349" />The newly - formed LDP is going to pose a real threat to the BNP in some small pockets of the country</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="style16">Bypassing Bangladesh's own petroleum exploration body, the Bapex, numerous shady deals have been struck in oil and gas, Bangladesh's two prime national resources have been leased out to different multinational companies.</p> <p class="style16">Khaleda's last tenure has also witnessed a rise in violent Islamism. Several grisly bomb blasts have taken place during her government's tenure. The government, at the very outset of its term, has kept denying the presence of these militant outfits in the country; Khaleda herself has blamed the opposition several times for blowing the fundamentalist issue out of proportion, calling it a conspiracy to blemish the country's image abroad. Even after several grenades were lobbed at an Awami League meeting at Bangabandhu Avenue, in which 37 people died, several BNP leaders tried to find the perpetrators in the fold of different criminal gangs. Even when Siddikul Islam alias Bangla Bhai (BB) and his gang were butchering the innocent in the troubled northern districts of the country, the party and some in the state machinery had helped BB carry out numerous acts of gruesome killing and thuggery. It has been found later on that BB is actually one of the linchpins of the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), a terrorist outfit that has declared a jihad to establish Sharia in Bangladesh. The </p> <p class="style16">government's role in handling the issue of religious extremism is questionable: though the regime at the tail end of its term has actually cracked down on the outfit, the BNP leaders, who once actively supported and armed BB, remain free. </p> <p class="style16"><span class="style56">T</span>he parliament, like other democratic institutions in the country, in the last five years, has remained ineffective; the AL has never played the role of a strong opposition in the parliament; the Speaker has always failed to live up to expectations, his role in this parliament has been markedly partisan. The Sangsad has never been made the centre of all political activities; the major policy and political decisions have been made either at </p> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="184"> <tbody><tr> <td class="osdn-navtext" width="184"><div align="right"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2006/11/01/cover08.jpg" height="250" width="184" />Tareque Rahman the heir apparent, has left a sordid legacy that many voters may not forget</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="style16">press conferences or at party gatherings. The BNP, as the party in power, has failed to make the political atmosphere more congenial and workable; the Awami League, for its part, has always relied on strikes and street agitations; instead of relying on wit, which politicians in other democracies do, both the major parties have resorted to violence and anarchy.</p> <p class="style16">The BNP's last term, apart from corruption, has also been marred by unashamed nepotism and lawlessness. Though the FPA government has formed the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), a new force parallel to the police, to improve law and order, there are instances of RAB-members themselves extorting and killing ordinary citizens in the name of cleansing the country of hooligans.</p> <p class="style16">The BNP, in its last term, has created a culture of corruption and degeneration; goons and thugs belonging to the BNP and its corrupt and vile partners have run amuck; long-term BNP leaders have been sidelined and this has given birth first to Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh, and, eventually, to a major break-up of the party-- Liberal Democratic Party (LDP); the LDP's emergence as a major player in the country's politics means that the BNP, as a centre right force, has lost a significant ground and in the next general elections its votes, in areas like Chittagong and the northern districts, are going to be significantly divided. And worse still, chances are there that the LDP may push the BNP further into the hands of extreme rightist elements like Jamaat and opportunist and corrupt leaders such as Ershad and Naziur Rahman Manju. Signs are already there that the BNP, already mired in nepotism and improbity, may move further right under the leadership of Tareque Rahman.</p> <p class="style16">The BNP, as a political party, even as an oligarchy run by a few families, is facing the biggest crisis in its history. Even the death of its founder Ziaur Rahman or the military coup led by Ershad, or a rebellion by party stalwarts in the mid eighties could not cause such a big blow as it is facing now, which is, in fact, its own creation. The unabated corruption and unashamed misrule of the BNP and its partners have put the party's future at stake; with the LDP claiming a big share in its vote, chances run high that a major vote swing will take place in the eighth general elections, which is only months away.</p> <p class="style16">Ershad, himself a crook and a treacherous politician, will not be able to save the skins of the BNP leaders and their cronies. What happens in the next elections will decide the future of many, especially the future of the BNP as a political entity.</p> <p class="style66" align="right"><a href="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2006/11/01/cover.htm#top"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Back to Top </span></a></p> <p class="style16 style58"><a name="02"></a>POWERLESS </p> <p class="style16"><strong>Imran H. Khan</strong> <em>and</em> <strong>Elita Karim</strong></p> <p class="style16">REDWAN, a student of class six in South Breeze, is one of the worst hit victims of the recent load shedding. He lives in a time when “country-wide load shedding” is as common a topic as, “political upheaval,” “launch disaster” or “government criticised for…” He and his family members have to do without electricity for two hours on average every day. His wish to his parents on his next birthday is to get an Instant Power Supply (IPS), a rather different wish from the usual iPod, Play Station or cell phone. </p> <p class="style16">A smooth supply of electricity is one of the basic benchmarks of development but Bangladesh seems to be in the grips of the worst power crisis in its history. The current supply of electricity satisfies only half the nation's demand. With each passing day, this persisting power problem is affecting every sector in Bangladesh. When it seems it just cannot get worse - it does. </p> <p class="style16">Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, in her speech to mark the end of the four-party alliance's term in power on October 27, 2006, said that the country was in a transitional period and "people's demands and hopes rise alongside strides in development." Her cabinet apparently feels that having electricity is a condition linked only with development and not a basic right of every citizen. She says, "A time comes when supply cannot keep pace with demand. That is exactly what happened in case of electricity in Bangladesh." But isn't it the duty of the government to predict the demand for power and take necessary action to meet it? </p> <p class="style16">The Prime Minister also said "The number of electricity subscribers during the past five years has increased by 76 percent and crossed the 97 lakh mark." And that demand for power has increased due to infrastructural development, modernisation of lifestyle and rapid proliferation of mills and factories. So we know the “How much” and we know the “Why?” The crucial question is “What are we doing about it?” </p> <p class="style16">Though 89 thousand kilometres of new transmission lines have been installed throughout the country, what point is there if there is no electricity to supply through these lines? “More and more people got connected, which is a major success claimed by the government,” says Anu Muhammad, professor of Economics at Jahangirnagar University. “However, if there is not enough production of power, what is the use of this connection? We had the opportunity of creating at least 3,500 mw of power in the last five years. Instead the country witnessed at least 2,000 mw of power cut.” With the exception of one power plant, one that is masked with controversy and skepticism, the coalition has failed to build any power plants. Neither has it managed to keep all its current power plants in full capacity. </p> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="200"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="2"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2006/11/01/cover09.jpg" height="165" width="500" /></td> </tr> <tr class="osdn-navtext"> <td>Expensive electrical equipment of the PDB lay in ruins when angry mobs ransacked and demolished numerous power stations in and around Dhaka city</td> <td valign="top"><div align="right">Agitated denizens set fire to vehicles all over the country to protest the government's failure to curb the power crisis</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="style16">During the first few months of the coalition rule in 2001, the Power Development Board (PDB) coped with the country's 3,100 megawatts (mw) demand of power. By 2004, the demand increased to 3,200 mw resulting in a shortage of 250 mw, on average. Two months later, the power crisis deteriorated with a supply shortfall of over 600 mw. By the middle of 2004, the shortage was 500 mw. At that time CDC, a British investment company, was in charge of running Meghnaghat and Haripur power plants after buying the ownership from American company AES. By March 2005, the load shedding scenario in Bangladesh doubled and there was a supply shortage of 1,000 mw. Experts in the Power Development Board (PDB), Power Cell and power companies expressed their fear that the situation would worsen as the government was not taking adequate steps to increase power supply, namely hinting that more power plants were in order. To make matters worse, frequent transfers and postings of high officials in the power sector added to the problem. </p> <p class="style16">The experts were proved right and the long suffering public's apprehension turned into a nightmare in midSeptember, 2006, when 19 power generation units shut down and Bangladesh witnessed the highest-ever power shortage of 2,200 mw. According to the data from the PDB, even in the peak hours when the 'official' demand for electricity was at 4,300 mw, the country's power plants were producing only 3,126 mw. But according to the power demand chart of the Rural Electrification Board (REB), Dhaka Electric Supply Authorities (Desa) and its company Dhaka Electric Supply Company (Desco) and the PDB, the demand for power was 5,400 mw. It was discovered that the PDB officially shows a lower level of load shedding to tone down the government's letdown in the power sector. </p> <p class="style16">A Daily Star report quoted a PDB official saying that the government had failed to install any new power project in the last five years except for the 80 MW Tongi power plant which remained shutdown most of the times due to its sub-standard quality. In contrast the government in the last five years has doubled the number of power consumers -- mostly in the rural areas. Such an increase in demand without proper backing with supply led to the nightmarish load shedding that took place in the last two months. About 21 power units out of around 100 have closed for weeks on end.</p> <p class="style16">Come September 29, 2006, State Minister for Power Major General (retd) Anwarul Kabir Talukder was removed from his post, just hours after he gave his notice to resign. His dismissal was the second removal of a state minister for power in the last four months. Amid widespread public protest against a severe power crisis, the government replaced former state minister for power Iqbal Hassan Mahmood on May 21 with previous state minister for finance and planning Anwarul Kabir Talukder. Talukder followed the path of eight power secretaries and eight Power Development Board (PDB) chairs to be relieved of this post in during the coalition government's term. The power quarter, it is alleged, has been biased in awarding contracts to favoured parties, violating basic rules and regulations while driving away genuine companies. </p> <p class="style16">Power failures also disrupted a large amount of medical equipment at health and diagnostic centres all over the country. Hospitals suffered and most places that had generators had to incur huge fuel costs to keep their generators running. </p> <p class="style16">Currently Bangladesh has close to 8.5 million power connections covering nearly fifty million people. The number of connections was five million five years ago. Initially, the demand and supply were in equilibrium at 3,100 mw of power but now, the country generates only 3,300 mw power while the number of connections has but doubled. The prevailing power crisis can be pinned to the BNP-led alliance government's failure to set up new power plants during their regime. </p> <p class="style16"><span class="style56">L</span>OAD shedding this year had risen to such an extent that violence was inevitable to follow. In April, villagers, traditionally the most peace loving and least volatile amongst us, were compelled to bring out processions in Kansat in Chapainawabganj to demand adequate electricity supply so that they could carry on with their only source of livelihood farming. Instead of trying to palliate them the government unleashed a reign of terror. The protestors were violently attacked by alleged BNP goons, shot at indiscriminately and finally, arrested by the police. A total of 20 innocent lives were lost in and around Kansat. The last resort for the villagers was to flee from their own homes to seek refuge from the police, who would go on late night rampages. Reporters, during that time period, were barred from visiting the trouble prone areas. They were also threatened by the police if they (journalists) did otherwise. This was the government's response to a legitimate demand of the people. </p> <p class="style16">Other news of violence and street protests were common all over Dhaka city as mobs took to the streets demanding power. In most places, there was no electricity for about 3 to 5 hours each day. Crowds also barricaded Dhaka-Chittagong and Dhaka-Sylhet highways disrupting traffic. The load shedding was worst in Chittagong, Keraniganj, Savar, Narayanganj, Narsingdi, Satkhira, Magura, Munshiganj and other parts of the country, especially those in the North. Some places faced seven to twelve hours of power outages every day, while in most remote villages, there was a shortage of electricity for more than 20 hours per day. With their backs against the wall and inaction from the government's side, they had little recourse but to go for street agitation. </p> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="200"> <tbody><tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2006/11/01/cover11.jpg" height="223" width="300" />A procession in Kansat by villagers demanding power ended in bloodshed when police opened fire on them</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="style16">The power crisis is largely connected with rampant corruption in the sector. In June 18, 2005, the Cabinet Purchase Committee awarded the contract to set up a 90 megawatt combined cycle power plant in Fenchuganj to a disqualified lone Chinese bidder, Harbin Power Engineering Ltd. Earlier, on April 20, the cabinet committee at a meeting chaired by Finance Minister M Saifur Rahman approved the same deal along with a decision to quickly provide the bidder with 10 percent down payment, blatantly going against government restrictions. Harbin, the lone bidder in this case, also won the contract for the 100 MW Tongi Power Plant, under the ruling BNP-led coalition. There was a one year delay before the plant started and the plant has failed to function properly from day one. Ignoring all the warning signs the government signed its second power project deal of Tk 524 crore with the same company on September 13 last year. Is it so surprising then that this second plant, the Fenchuganj Power Plant, is one of the most troubled ones of the PDB? If this project was done in 1998 when the first bid was floated, the cost would have been less than Tk 300 crore. There were other incidents where 3 costly power proposals of Hosaf group and CMC, its Chinese partner of Barapukuria coalmine and power projects were approved. While corruption and bid tampering have driven away competent power companies, the favoured ones such as Harbin, failed to deliver on their promise. </p> <p class="style16">In recent times, the government has suspended electricity supply to big shopping malls and less important small industries during peak hours in the evening and cut power supply to billboards. This way, they can re-route that power to people's houses and to hospitals. This is perhaps the only positive stop-gap solution as people would rather have light for their children to study than see flood lit shopping malls which cater to a ridiculously small percentage of the country's population. </p> <p class="style16"> <span class="style56">I</span>n other energy sectors, gas is one field that has been on volatile grounds. Even though Bangladesh has a lot of gas, it has failed to meet the demand and the scenario has become as before, with Bangladesh buying more and more petrol and diesel from abroad. To add to that, foreign companies are coming on Bangladesh land and 'accidentally' setting fire to our gas wells. At the end of December, 2005, Petrobangla, the state-run oil, gas and mineral corporation made a claim of Tk 250 crore as compensation from Canadian Niko Resources Ltd for losses caused by explosions at Tengratila. The first accident dates back to January of this year when Niko was drilling at the abandoned gas field under a joint venture agreement with Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (Bapex), a subsidiary of the Petrobangla. The second blowout took place in June of the same year when Niko was drilling a relief well to extinguish the first fire. Niko too had been busy spending one crore taka on a Toyota Land cruiser as a gift for State Minister AKM Mosharraf Hossain, who was later replaced. There were no actions taken against Niko. Up until the end of the four party coalition's rule Niko was happily drilling away for gas in Feni. </p> <p class="style16">Whatever successes the BNP led 4-party alliance has had in its term, failures in certain sectors, namely power sector, curbing massive corruption and unbridled price hike have been its biggest downfall. It is rather sad that the government, instead of facing the music, is repeatedly denying the truth. The power shortage is not the result of Bangladesh's development as claimed by the prime minister, but an outcome of the failure of the government to keep the chaotic situation under check and curb corruption in the sector. The recent power crisis has not befallen the nation all of a sudden, but is the natural consequence of years of negligence. </p> <p class="style16">Source : <em>The Daily Star </em></p> <p class="style66" align="right"><a href="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2006/11/01/cover.htm#top"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Back to Top </span></a></p> <p class="style16 style60 style61"><a name="03"></a>Bangladesh Shining?</p> <p class="style16 style60">Khaleda Zia's last term in office has witnessed a boom in the telecom sector and a steady economic growth, but the spiralling price of essentials and corruption may cost her dearly in the next elections</p> <p class="style60 style16"><strong>Ahmede Hussain </strong></p> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="150"> <tbody><tr> <td class="osdn-navtext" width="150"><div align="right"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2006/11/01/cover13.jpg" height="171" width="150" />Khaleda Zia's tenure witnessed a boom in the telecom sector</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="style16 style60"><span class="style56">I</span>t is, indeed, no less than ironic that every development activity that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) claims to have done in its last five-year rule is attached to allegations of graft and nepotism. One of the major achievements of her tenure has been the banning of two wheelers from the streets of the country. But, that, too, is overshadowed by corruption--it is alleged that due to the dishonesty of some BNP leaders, the Communications Minister Nazmul Huda's brother to be precise, a four-stroke three-wheeler (CNGs), which costs Tk 1,50,000 abroad is being sold at double the price in the country. The same can be said about the billing-metres of these taxicabs; a metre that usually costs Tk 1000 on the international market is as much as nine times high, costing Tk 9,000 apiece. </p> <p class="style16">This is just the tip of the iceberg. Even some of the over 70 ministers in Khaleda's cabinet allege that their ministries could not function properly because of Tareque Rahman's manipulations and interventions. When Khaleda herself has urged foreign investors to come and invest in the coutry, news of Tareque's foreign investment abroad is in circulation. </p> <p class="style16">In fact, it is the same sordid story everywhere. The BNP and FPA leaders have not spared anything or anyone. Though the country's economy is boasting a steady growth and the wild horse of inflation has successfully been tamed, prices of essentials on the market have been skyrocketing. In her last speech to the nation Khaleda has also boasted a steady foreign exchange reserve of USD three billion, saying that remittance inflow has increased to $ 4.2 billion, rising from $ 1.88 billion when she took over as Prime Minister.</p> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="200"> <tbody><tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2006/11/01/cover12.jpg" height="200" width="196" />Environment-friendly CNGs one of the very few achievements of the BNP-led alliancegovernment</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="style16">That the rate of inflation is at seven per cent a year and the prices of rice and vegetables, along with other daily necessities have been soaring, means the real income of the masses have dwindled. It is tragic that BNP-men are involved in this too-- there is evidence that the party high-ups have created a number of syndicates which have been controlling the supply to different bazaars, creating artificial crises on the market, and thus making the price far beyond the means of the masses. </p> <p class="style16">A real development-- if one must use the word, for the BNP-leaders have abused the word indiscriminately-- has taken place in the telecom sector; the competition has been so high here that even the government-run BTTB, inept and ineffectual that it is, has joined the country's burgeoning mobile phone market. At the same time, the government has opened the world of Voice-Over-Internet-Protocol to private operators. After much delay the BNP-led Four-Party Alliance has also decided to connect the country with the Information Super Highway. Use of polythene, deadly to the environment, has been banned; a massive crackdown was launched on food-adulterers, but, at the same time, no follow up has been done to drive them away from the business for good. </p> <p class="style16">The FPA leaders, BNP-men to be precise, have set up different television channels and banks in the last five years. The most striking of these success- stories is that of a BNP leader who a few years ago lived in a tiny rented house, and, now, this person, a favourite of Khaleda Zia, is an MP, and owns two television channels, a newspaper and a bank. </p> <p class="style16">Apart from corruption, signs of misrule are everywhere. Under Khaleda Zia's rule most of the government-run subsidiaries, which were limping around under Sheikh Hasina in 1996-2001 because of the Awami League leaders' own corruption, have become a refuge for corrupt employers and fat bureaucrats. Though on different occasions Khaleda Zia has talked about "upholding the country's image abroad", urging citizens to be on their guard against any probable conspiracy, on the foreign affairs front Bangladesh remains friendless. The BNP could not solve issues as basic as sporadic shooting by Indian border guards on innocent Bangladeshi farmers. The country's performance at different trade talks of the WTO has been shambolic and miserable. </p> <p class="style16">With the prices of essentials soaring and the real income of ordinary people diminishing fast, it will be laughable if the BNP and its partners claim that the country, under their rule, has been shining. After five years under Khaleda, if anything had been shining at all that, too, would have been in the pockets of BNP and FPA leaders.</p> <div class="style66" align="right"><a href="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2006/11/01/cover.htm#top"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Back to Top </span></a> </div> <p class="style16"> </p> <p class="style16 style62"><a name="04"></a>The Sector of No Importance</p> <p class="style16"><strong>Nader Rahman </strong></p> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="200"> <tbody><tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2006/11/01/cover14.jpg" height="209" width="300" />Rioting garments workers</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="style16"><span class="style56">B</span>angladesh is a land of contrasts. A Nobel Peace Prize and yet people die over the next election commissioner, known for its fertile soil, yet people still starve in the north, an economy destined for failure after the cessation of the Multi-Fibre Agreement (MFA) and yet we are still on our feet. One might think the garments sector was one of the few aspects of this country's economy that the government handled properly, but that is far from the case.</p> <p class="style16">To set the record straight the government has recently taken credit for the fact that even after that ominous day of January 1st 2005(when the MFA expired), Bangladesh's garments sector has continuously grown and that overall in the past 5 years our main export earner has increased in size. The easy reply to that is that our government had absolutely nothing to do with the growth of the Ready Made Garments (RMG) industry. Before the quotas expired there was immense apprehension as to what the post MFA period would hold for the economy of Bangladesh, the government said nothing and offered no support. What happened after the lifting of the quotas was that the industry as a whole galvanized and through their own hard work and enterprise streamlined their production. For the first time on an international scale we were receiving orders without the benefit of the MFA and we did not wilt. There was no massive take over by China or Vietnam as everyone had thought, the industry held its ground. Now the government who never even floated the idea of assistance in the post MFA era has taken the credit for stable growth of our RMG industry.</p> <p class="style16">Aside from basking in what can only be called reflected glory, the government has made some rather serious mistakes that have harmed our garments industry even more than the lifting of quotas. The past five years have been littered with garments factory related accidents and after its customary lip service the government has not rigorously enforced its so-called safety precautions. The shining jewel in this pile of safety</p> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="200"> <tbody><tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2006/11/01/cover15.jpg" height="300" width="199" />The Palashbari Tragedy</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="style16"> consciousness is collapse of the building that housed Spectrum Sweater Industries Ltd. and Shahriar Fabrics in Palashbari on the 11th of April last year. The communist party of Bangladesh claimed that as many as 1000 lives had been lost in the past five years in the garments sector and they made no qualms about whom they blamed. The government has been impotent and there have been numerous fires always accompanied by countless deaths. Even if the figure of 1000 lives is rather high, it does not shy away from the real failures of the government. These constant security fears and the prison like workplaces are what lead to the most recent and possibly greatest failure by the government.</p> <p class="style16">Just a few months ago garments workers around Bangladesh erupted, as their wage demands were not met. For all the assistance that the government has apparently given to the garments industry, they never once took to task the owners for sub-standard facilities and even poorer salaries. That is until it blew up in their face, then they hastily set up a wage commission which somehow inexplicably agreed to a basic minimum of Tk 2000, when the workers demands were Tk 3000. For a couple of days Dhaka was turned upside down as the workers on a rampage demanded a less gruelling working day (currently it's 14 hours) and a minimum wage to keep up with raising prices. This was the sum total of their efforts into the garments sector in 5 years. For a nation with 75% of total export earnings coming from the garments sector they certainly did a fine job at resurrecting our economy. People died in fires, stampedes and whole buildings collapsed. The most obvious reaction to that is to turn a blind eye to poor work conditions and laughable salaries. The great economic minds were working overtime.</p> <p class="style16">Now the post MFA era has been the most crucial time for our fledgling economy. While it is true that a few companies have closed down and that sales are down from pre MFA times what is most important to notice is that the industry and the export based economy of our country have not collapsed altogether. Sure enough prices went down, but for the companies that stayed on, international competition spurred them on to streamline their production methods to compete globally. As one garments manufacturer commented the profit he was making on 6 containers before now he was making on 8. But he still got orders from abroad. Here the government should have taken a more active role, currently almost all garments factories run on diesel-powered generators, if those factories were to run on state supplied electricity their productivity would increase by at least 5%. Now for a simple calculation, our export earnings from RMG's is approximately 5.8 billion dollars, a 5% increase would be an extra 290 million dollars in foreign exchange. In the past 5 years the government has also made no effort for barrier-free access to the American markets. Currently we pay about 310 million dollars in duties at US customs, with tariffs ranging from 5 to 30%. A recent study from the Centre of Policy Dialogue estimates that the removal of barriers on our RMG to the US would amount to an immediate one billion dollar increase in the export of apparels to the US!</p> <p class="style16">One wonders what the government has actually been up to, they claim the economy and the people are of utmost importance yet for the past five years they have seemingly forgot them both. One can guess the Prime Minister had a speechwriter with a sense of humour, because only he could have added all that talk of helping the garments sector. It also goes to prove that she may have read that speech, but she most certainly did not understand it.</p> <div align="right"> <div class="style66" align="right"><a href="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2006/11/01/cover.htm#top"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Back to Top </span></a> </div> <p class="style16 style63" align="left"><a name="05"></a>A Successful Police State</p> <p class="style16" align="left"><strong>Aasha Mehreen Amin</strong> and <strong>Kajalie Shehreen Islam</strong></p> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="200"> <tbody><tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2006/11/01/cover16.jpg" height="221" width="300" />RAB -- the fearsome elite force became controversial because of the over-300 'deaths in crossfire' of arrestees</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="style16" align="left">When the BNP-led coalition assumed power in 2001, winning a two-thirds majority vote, it came with an anti-crime mandate. The promise was to wipe out the gory legacy of terror and mayhem left by the godfathers and goons of the previous Awami League (AL) government and free the streets of crime. BNP-voters fell for this and were eager to believe that they had made the right choice in the 2001 elections. Little did they know that in the course of the next five years they would witness an unprecedented level of acts of human rights violations carried out by agents who either enjoyed patronage of the parties in power or had absolute institutional authority to do so. The most blatant examples of the government's fascist tactics to apparently curb crime were its 'Operation Clean Heart' and the 'deaths by crossfire' carried out by its elite force Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). The government's five-year rule was marked by innumerable arbitrary arrests, torture and deaths of victims in police custody, increased police brutality during opposition rallies and hartals as well as attacks on minority communities.</p> <p class="style16" align="left">In 2002 the government was under increased pressure from the business community and international donors to crack down on crime, most of which was linked to the gangs and hoodlums of politicians. The police force was riddled with corruption. Much of the police force's inefficiency was directly linked to the fact that the police were severely underpaid, overworked and heavily politicised, a situation created and left uncorrected by previous governments. Reforms were obviously needed but instead of going through a major overhaul of the police force the government chose to use the army in the most undemocratic way. Operation Clean Heart began on October 17, 2002 with battalions of soldiers scouring the country, rounding up alleged criminals and taking them to various army cantonments. This was not 1971, nor was it a state of emergency; it was in a free country under a democratically elected government.</p> <p class="style16" align="left">During Operation Clean Heart, between October 2002 and January 2003 when it ended, more than 11,000 people were arrested; out of them 2,400 were listed as alleged criminals. Eerily, around 44 people in army custody died of unexplained 'heart attacks'. Relatives of the dead claimed that the victims' bodies bore marks of torture. The government kept stubbornly mum about how the list of so-called criminals had been prepared or by whom or what the criteria was to mark them as criminals.</p> <p class="style16" align="left">Law and Justice Minister, Moudud Ahmed said that the army had been called in under section 129 and 130 of the Bangladesh Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) to help the civil authorities fight crime and that they had not been given power of magistracy or to arrest anyone. The truth was that the army was arbitrarily arresting people and handing out punishments to them without trial.</p> <p class="style16" align="left"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2006/11/01/cover17.jpg" align="right" height="226" width="150" />Sections 129 and 130 of the CrPC relate to dispersal of unlawful assemblies and require army personnel to "use as little force, and do as little injury to person and property, as may be consistent with dispersing the assembly and arresting and detaining such persons". But army personnel can be used only when the civil forces fail to do the job. Section 131 moreover states that an army officer can act alone only "when no Magistrate can be communicated with”. In the case when it is possible to communicate with a Magistrate, he is obliged to obey the Magistrate's directives and advise on whether he should take a particular course of action or not. Cleverly, the government ordered police constables to accompany the army officials on the third day of Operation Clean Heart although it was obvious who were calling the shots. It was called a joint drive of the army, paramilitary Bangladesh rifles and the police. According to Article 33 (1) of the Bangladesh Constitution, no person may be arrested without being informed of the grounds for arrest. Furthermore the arrestee has the right to consult and be defended by a legal practitioner. Article 33 (2) requires every detainee to be produced before a Magistrate within hours of his or her arrest. Under Operation Clean Heart, hundreds of people were denied such rights. They were tortured and at least 44 of them died because of torture. To the public's dismay in January 2003, the Prime Minister created the Joint Drive Indemnity Ordinance which allowed the perpetrators of human rights violations under Operation Clean Heart to enjoy total impunity in Bangladesh.</p> <p class="style16" align="left">After Operation Clean Heart was wound up in 2003, the Law and Justice Minister Moudud Ahmed in 2004 came up with another fascist project -- to create the Rapid Action Battalion, an elite 'anti-crime' unit comprised of armed personnel from various security branches. Wearing black uniforms, black bandannas and black sunglasses, these ninja-like agents are often feared more than hard-core criminals, by the public. The consistent allegations of extra-judicial killings and torture in custody by RAB officials have created this image of terror. The government claims that crime has gone down considerably after the deployment of RAB and to a certain extent it is true in that there are fewer incidents of street hoodlums extorting money from business people. This, however, does not change the fact that the RAB has used unconstitutional, undemocratic means to curb crime. Many criminals have been arrested but even criminals have the right to be tried before a court of law. Between January and October 2005, an estimated 300 people were killed in what is termed 'crossfire'. The RAB has unashamedly given the exact same explanation for every death in their custody: a criminal is caught and taken to custody; he is asked to show where his criminal den is; his gang members start attacking RAB who are forced to open fire and the criminal dies in the crossfire.</p> <p class="style16" align="left"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2006/11/01/cover18.jpg" height="177" width="550" /><br /> <span class="osdn-navtext">Many journalists and human rights defenders came under attack</span></p> <p class="style16" align="left">Not all victims of RAB's wrath are known criminals. Many have been tortured or killed for political reasons. Thirty-year-old Sumon Majumdar, for instance, was picked up for extortion by RAB officials, an allegation vehemently denied by his parents. Was it mere coincidence that he just happened to be a witness to the murder of opposition AL MP Ahsanullah Master in May 2004? Sumon's parents did not see their son alive again.</p> <p class="style16" align="left">Meanwhile, everyday, the newspapers report yet another 'death by crossfire'. The allegations of torture by RAB officials conjure images familiar to barbaric regimes of dictatorships in foreign countries. According to the Asian Human Rights Commission, on August 4, 2004, RAB officials arbitrarily arrested and then tortured three young men from Chittagong's Agrabad area. The brutal torture, which included giving electric shocks to the genitals, led to the death of one of them -- Sha Newaz, a madrasa teacher from Chandpur, on August 6. The other two men, Monir Hussain Talukdar and Ziaul Alam Dipu, were also tortured and RAB officials filed false cases of illegal trading in arms against all three men.</p> <p class="style16" align="left">There are also allegations of extortion and harassment by RAB officials. Again, for the most part, the RAB has enjoyed impunity provided by the government.</p> <div align="left"> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="200"> <tbody><tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2006/11/01/cover19.jpg" height="202" width="300" />During 'Operation Clean Heart' around 44 people died in custody of mysterious 'heart attacks'</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </div> <p class="style16" align="left">The police forces, meanwhile, continue their traditional role of making arbitrary arrests under Section 54 of the CrPC which allows the police to arrest anyone without a warrant of arrest and keep them in detention for 24 hours. Many of those arrested under this section have been denied meeting their lawyers, medical attention or family visits. There have been allegations of torture to obtain 'confession'.</p> <p class="style16" align="left">Police brutality has been most obvious in the streets during opposition rallies and hartals. The excessive use of force on opposition activists and also journalists indicates the increasing politicisation of state machinery by the government in power to intimidate opponents or critics.</p> <p class="style16" align="left">Freedom of speech and expression came under violent attack during the immediate past government’s regime. At least 11 journalists were killed in bomb attacks, shootings and stabbings since 2002, five of them in 2004 alone. Among them were Manik Saha, correspondent of New Age and Humayun Kabir Balu, editor of the daily Janmabhumi, both killed in bomb attacks in Khulna. Also killed in Khulna was Dipankar Chakrabarty, editor of the daily <em>Durjoy Bangla</em>, who was beheaded by five young men. Other victims include district correspondents from daily <em>Samokal, Sangram, Ajker Kagoj</em> and editor of <em>Comilla Muktokantha</em>. In September of this year, Bellal Hossain Dafadar of the Khulna-based daily </p> <div align="left"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="150"> <tbody><tr> <td class="osdn-navtext" width="150"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2006/11/01/cover20.jpg" height="219" width="150" />Bangla Bhai's idea of punishing outlaws</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </div> <p class="style16" align="left"><em>Janabani</em> was stabbed to death. Hundreds of other journalists were threatened and attacked over the last five years, many of them maimed with their limbs broken. The culture of impunity, made obvious by the fact that no one has yet been brought to book in these cases, has contributed to these crimes continuing unabated.</p> <p class="style16" align="left">In other cases, the government itself served to intimidate anyone who dared to speak out against them. Journalist and human rights activist Shahriar Kabir was arrested on sedition charges for wanting to make a documentary on the violence against religious minorities which occurred right after the four-party coalition assumed power in October 2001. He faced a possible death sentence and was tortured while in custody. Writer and professor of history at Dhaka University, Muntasir Mamun, was also arrested, accused of publishing articles criticising the government and conspiring against the country. Hundreds of other human rights defenders, including university professors, journalists and social activists were threatened or attacked either by religious extremist groups, outlaw groups, political thugs or just petty criminals with political backing. A number of business people, among them, Jamaluddin of Chittagong, were threatened, kidnapped, ransom demanded and then killed. Many of the threats against university professors and free thinkers also materialised.</p> <p class="style16" align="left">Two professors of Rajshahi University, Prof. Yunus and Dr. S. Taher Ahmed, were killed in 2004 and 2006 respectively, allegedly by ruling coalition partner Jamaat-e-Islami’s </p> <div align="left"> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="200"> <tbody><tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2006/11/01/cover21.jpg" height="199" width="300" />A JMB bomb blast at a court in Gazipur left eight, including the suicide bomber, dead</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </div> <p class="style16" align="left">student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir activists. Religious extremists also attacked professor of Bangla at Dhaka University, Dr. Humayun Azad, at the Ekushey Boi Mela in 2004. Dr. Azad died later that year. Just two months ago, in September of this year, Prof. Aftab Ahmed of Dhaka University was killed by unidentified assailants his own home on the university campus. No one has been apprehended in any of these cases.</p> <p class="style16" align="left">While the government may not have been directly involved in most of these incidents, it failed to provide security to the victims. The continued occurrence of such incidents also demonstrates the government’s apathy and reluctance to do anything to stop them. This unwillingness to take measures -- often against groups with links to the government -- was also blatantly obvious in the violent attacks against members of the Ahmadiyya community, their homes and places of worship, the perpetrators of which have yet to be arrested and punished. In January 2004, the government even placed a ban on al Ahmadiyya publications, in response to an ultimatum to the government by ruling coalition partner Islami Oikyo Jote and extremist group Khatme Nabuwat Movement to declare the Ahmadiyyas non-Muslims. A court later suspended the ban. </p> <p class="style16" align="left">Many have viewed the government’s indifference and inaction as encouragement to the perpetrators to continue with their crimes, some legal experts even terming the government as an accomplice.</p> <p class="style16" align="left">While the government was busy first avoiding, then denying the existence of religious fundamentalists in the country, a spate of bomb and grenade attacks since 2004 left a number of people killed or injured. These include the August 21 grenade attack on an AL rally which left at least 21 of the party’s activists dead; the attack in January 2005 in Sylhet which killed former finance minister and AL presidium member SAMS Kibria; and the attack on British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury, also in Sylhet in 2005. Other political killings include those of AL MP Ahsanullah Master and Manjurul Imam, president of the Khulna Awami League.</p> <p class="style16" align="left">Starting from August 2005, when 400 bombs went off simultaneously in 63 districts of the country, several bomb attacks were carried out by religious extremist group Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh, killing a number of people. They included, among others, members of the judiciary, whose law the extremists rejected, demanding Islamic law in the country. After years of denying the existence of such religious extremist group, the government finally made a crackdown and dramatically caught, jailed and tried the key leaders of the group, including Shaikh Abdur Rahman, Bangla Bhai, and other main JMB members. They are currently awaiting execution. </p> <div align="left"> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="200"> <tbody><tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2006/11/01/cover22.jpg" height="225" width="300" />JMB leaders Bangla Bhai (L) and Shaikh Abdur Rahman (R) in police custody</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </div> <p class="style16" align="left">Acknowledging the existence of and taking action against such groups earlier may have saved many lives. But the government chose to turn a blind eye towards the activities of its religion-based partners and their offshoots -- who use religion more for political than for spiritual gain -- for the greater part of its tenure. If anything, the hold of the religion-based parties over the government has been made even more obvious by actions such as giving madrasa education equivalence with mainstream education. The state has already failed to provide employment for millions of youth who become frustrated, many of them easily led astray by extremist groups. By taking this step, young people are encouraged to join madrasas; they will get the same degree as that given in mainstream education but after studying under a totally different curriculum. Their chances of entering the work force, while actually being less qualified, increase and improve, which will then cause even greater crisis in the already limited job market.</p> <p class="style16" align="left">Bangladesh was founded on the basic principle of secular democracy. The unconstitutional acts of the government in its manner of fighting crime through human rights violations, extrajudicial killings, excessive use of force, custodial torture, etc., as well as its use of religion for political gain has made a mockery of the term democracy.</p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;color:black;" ><b>Copyright (R) thedailystar.net 2006<br /></b></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Volume </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><strong>5</strong> Issue <b>1</b></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" ><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><b>1</b></span><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><b>8</b></span> | <strong><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;">November 3</span></strong><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><strong>, 2006</strong></span><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"> |</span></span><br /></div></div>Elita Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15708378163417621945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5036007291687052740.post-1675317186844882632007-08-25T18:15:00.000+06:002007-08-25T18:16:14.245+06:00An Inspiring Force in Music<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16 style131"><strong><br /></strong></p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="170"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/07/03/cov01.jpg" height="134" width="200" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td><div class="osdn-navtext" align="right"><em><strong>Photo: Zahidul I. Khan</strong></em></div></td> </tr> </tbody></table><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16"><span class="style130">C</span>lad in a white <em>kurta</em> and pajama, Kalim Sharafi looks every bit the haloed artiste that he is against the bright sunlight splashing inside the drawing room at his Baily Road residence. For someone who has just turned 84 years old, Sharafi is still enthusiastic and intrigued by the litt</p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="left" border="0" width="170"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/07/03/cov02.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="left">Kalim Sharafi as a young man in 1949 and 1964 respectively.</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">le discoveries that he makes on his own. “Which village are you from in Chittagong?” Kalim Sharafi asks me in perfect Chatgayya, upon discovering my origin. He then begins a tête-à-tête with me in the language and smiles fondly to himself. “He can speak fluent Sylheti and other dialects as well,” adds Sharafi's wife, Noushaba Khatun.</p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">"When I see boys and girls working together for a cause, no matter how small the issue may be, my heart swells with pride and joy," smiles Sharafi. "For instance, several publications have been made in volumes regarding culture, politics, history, Tagore, where I have seen groups of young people working together as one. I have been honoured to offer my ideas, suggestions and be a part of such projects." To him, strength lies within oneself, to perform the most difficult task, sometimes even the impossible. In 'Kalim Sharafi's Album' written and compiled by M A Taher, Sharafi says that the course of nature requires human beings to spend a very short span of time on earth. It's up to each one of us as to how we make use of it, he says. "Life is much more than the yearning for money, properties and power," says Sharafi. "It cannot be defined as how much life has given us, but rather what we have given to the people."</p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="170"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/07/03/cov03.jpg" align="right" height="200" width="131" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right">Working on a composition.</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Ironically, Sharafi was born into a family that was far from the world of music that he was destined to be in. Sharafi was born on May 8, 1924 in the village of Birbhum, West Bengal and his ancestors belonged to a family of pirs, based in Sonargaon. Consequently, Sharafi was forbidden to practice music. In spite of that, Sharafi's love for music led him to defy his family's wishes and secretly patronise it as he grew up. He would listen to famous artists and musicians of the then pre-independent India and learn from them as well. “I was always a quick learner,” says Sharafi. “As a child I used to find Rabindranath's compositions naturally melodic and heart touching and would grasp them easily.”</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Sharafi is quite optimistic about the development that is taking place in the field of media and communications in the country today. The founder director of Bangladesh Television in 1964, Sharafi is one of the pioneers in introducing electronic media in the country. "I welcome changes and progressive ideas," he says. "The media has changed tremendously over the past few decades. We now have the resources to match our international counterparts. However, we seem to take these advantages for granted and misuse them to promote vulgarity and thoughts against culture. This unnecessary colouring should be stopped."</p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="left" border="0" width="170"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/07/03/cov04.jpg" height="200" width="132" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="left">Speaking on the occasion of May Day with Mamunur Rashid and Khaled Khan of Oronnok Theatre Group.</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Yet he is very positive about changes in the field of media such as the digitisation of music and also the advent of western influence on band music in the country. "We have to move along with time to survive," he says. "There is nothing wrong with the practice of band music in Bangladesh. In fact, the fresh sound is welcomed and appreciated. However, in the name of change, we should not lose our integrity and respect for the culture in any case."Sharafi mentions the distortion of Tagore songs, which have been taking place in the past few years. "One can always experiment,” he says. “All you have to keep in mind is to follow the swaralipi to sing Rabindra Sangeet," he says. According to many an expert, Rabindranath Tagore's compositions have several levels of meanings. The blend of words, rhythm and melody has certain implications, which need to be pronounced and stressed in particular ways to bring out the true connotation of the lyrics.</p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="170"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/07/03/cov05.jpg" align="right" height="200" width="145" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right">Sharafi is very positive about the changes taking place in the fields of media and communications, in the country today.<em><strong> Photo: Zahidul I. Khan</strong></em></div></td> </tr> </tbody></table><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">A diehard communist, he talks about how communalism and political favouritism have taken over culture. During the pre-liberation period, Rabindranath's songs were banned from being broadcasted on the radio. Even after liberation, Sharafi was banned from both Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television. “It saddens me when people start comparing Rabindranath and Nazrul and putting forward absurd questions like why Tagore is placed higher than Nazrul, like they are two leaders of two political parties,” says Sharadi. “Nazrul's poetry and music are incomparable to the creative works done by anyone else. How can two different works, belonging to two different worlds and eras be compared in this way? I bet even Nazrul would be embarrassed if he were alive today with the comparisons, considering the fact that he was a big Tagore admirer. It's a shame to see how some people simply don't understand the stupid comments that they make so bluntly in public. What's more disheartening is that these same clusters of so-called 'thinkers' end up influencing the people of our country.”</p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="left" border="0" width="170"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/07/03/cov06.jpg" height="169" width="250" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="left">Rabindra Sangeet singer Wahidul Huq offering a token of appreciation to Kalim Sharafi.</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">He has seen much of what has happened in the pre-independent India, says Sharafi. A political activist from a very early age, Sharafi was a part of the Quit India Movement in 1942, for which many activists were locked up for years. “I was picked up from my village,” he says. “I was hardly 18 or 19 years old back then. The officials surrounded my home and took me to jail in their jeep.” While he was being taken away, it seemed as if the quiet village had suddenly come alive. “Groups of hundreds were cheering for me, encouraging me in the movement and telling me to go on with the fight to free our country from these foreign clutches.”</p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="170"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/07/03/cov07.jpg" height="169" width="250" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right">With Ustad Alauddin Khan and Artiste Zainul Abedin.</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">In his book, Smrity Amrito, Sharafi says that upon entering prison and staying there for more than a year, he had come face to face with class distinctions. “I was probably one of the very few Muslim activists that the other political figures had heard about,” says Sharafi. “To add to it all, because I was the only Muslim prisoner there, most of the political prisoners knew of me. The deputy inspector, who was also a Muslim, was a very nice man and would often offer me food from home and look out for me. However, he disliked the fact that I used to mix with the non-Muslims and would often ask me to stay away from the other activists.” He remembers that there were other non-political prisoners with him at the time as well. “They used to refer to me and other political prisoners as Swadeshi Babu,” says Sharafi. According to the book, the Swadeshi Babus had it easy as compared to the other prisoners. In fact, the other prisoners would do all the work for these Babus, for instance washing and cleaning. Other than that, everyone in prison had to go through absurd punishments and would spend their days thinking and planning about Swaraj.</p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="170"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/07/03/cov08.jpg" height="169" width="250" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right">At a protest, Kalim Sharafi with poet Shamsur Rahman, Professor Kabir Chowdhury, writer Syed Shamsul Haq and others. </div></td> </tr> </tbody></table><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">His personal life seems to have a lot more tranquil. Sharafi and his wife Professor Noushaba Khatun have one son and four daughters. The coffee tables are crammed with photographs of their great-grandchildren. The closeness of the couple is all too clear. As we speak, Noushaba sometimes takes the floor and answers for her husband. “We have known each other ever since we were youngsters,” says Noushaba. “Even though we lived a little away from each other in Kolkata, we hail from the same village of Birbhum.”</p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="left" border="0" width="170"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/07/03/cov09.jpg" height="167" width="250" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="left">Professor Noushaba Khatun helps her husband remember various instances from the past.<em><strong> Photo: Zahidul I. Khan</strong></em></div></td> </tr> </tbody></table><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">So did they fall in love and go through the whole secret courting before they got married? “No!” cries Noushaba. “I wish you youngsters would stop fussing about, making everything sound so romantic! Our families were very close and we are also related through a marriage, which had taken place earlier in our families. That's how everything happened.”</p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="170"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/07/03/cov10.jpg" align="right" height="150" width="123" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right">Performing at a gathering in Chittagong in 1952.</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Noushaba describes her husband to be absolutely opposite of herself. “He does not act logically at all. For instance, he won't turn the fans on when he is sitting and reading. For some inane reason, he prefers to sit in the heat,” she complains. “Thankfully he remembered to turn them on today since we have visitors.” She relates a story to support her belief about her husband. “Sharafi used to work at the Bangladesh Textile Corporation (BTC) at that time,” she says. “As soon as the new government came into power, the chairman called him to his office, spoke casually for a while and had tea together. The very next minute, he was asked to leave office! For anyone else this would have been a devastating moment, considering the fact that he had a whole family to run and feed. He cleaned his office desk and came home. It seemed a little strange to me that he brought back home all the knick-knacks that he had on his office table. But like any other day, he had lunch and then went to take his nap. After a while, four of his colleagues came home to visit him and they seemed a little upset. The female colleague was surprised when I told her that he was taking a nap. He must be exhausted and enjoying some free time now that he has been let go from work, she said. I was horrified when I heard this! He had not told me anything at all. How could anybody take this so lightly? Thank goodness I was working and did not have to worry immediately about money.”</p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="left" border="0" width="170"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/07/03/cov11.jpg" height="136" width="200" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="left">Remembering Shawkat Osman on his death anniversary at the Shahid Minar.</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Sharafi says that amongst his many favourites, Ami Choncholo Hein, a Tagore composition is closest to his heart. When asked which of Sharafi's songs Noushaba liked the best, she said, “Frankly speaking, Kalim Sharafi is not my favourite singer, though I really love the Puja and devotional songs that he does of Rabindranath's. The passion, the need to give to people and devotion to the Creator are apparent in his voice.”</p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="170"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/07/03/cov12.jpg" height="136" width="200" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td><div class="osdn-navtext" align="right">With wife Professor Noushaba Khatun at Maryland, USA in 1981.</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Both Sharafi and Noushaba have a very active social life. “When we have nothing to do, we just like to go and walk around at the different malls in Dhaka city,” smiles Noushaba. “Most of the times we are by ourselves, window shopping or hanging out with friends at their homes. One of my favourite places is Agora, where I go and check out everything, including people.”</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Sharafi says that he loves to chat with friends at various places. “Most of my friends are all younger than I am,” he laughs. “But I don't mind hanging out with them. Our addas take place everywhere, even at sweetmeat shops on Baily Road.”</p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="170"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/07/03/cov13.jpg" height="136" width="200" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right">The many awards and recognitions received by Sharafi over the last few decades.</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Something that has bound Noushaba and Sharafi together is their strong hold on values and culture. “It scares me to think that this country might slowly come into the clutches of the fundamentalists,” says Noushaba. Having gone through the plight of partition in 1947 as a youngster, Noushaba is not new to the political nonsense adapted by so-called leaders for the betterment of the country and its people. “I have seen the country tear up into pieces,” says Nawshaba. “Just imagine your home, where you have lived your whole life, is not your home anymore because of your faith.” She thinks about the bloody massacres that took place during the partition of India. “We had witnessed similar incidents at the end of last year during the political riots in Bangladesh,” she adds. A lot has to be traded for peace in this part of the world, she says.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span class="style16">“I have received so much love from people all over,” says Sharafi in his book. “It is this love that has kept me breathing till now.” Both Sharafi and Noushaba are full of stories from the past, wonder about the future and in awe of their present. In spite of all the grievances that they had to go through, the love for life and living still shine in their eyes.</span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16"><strong>Photos: 'Kalim Sharafi's Album'</strong></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16 style133"> </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16"> </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="center"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;" ><b>Copyright (R) thedailystar.net 2007</b></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="center"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Volume <strong>6</strong> Issue<b> 28</b></span>| <strong><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >July 20 </span></strong><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><strong>, 2007</strong> |</span></p>Elita Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15708378163417621945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5036007291687052740.post-50538937307032736782007-08-25T18:12:00.000+06:002007-08-25T18:13:16.142+06:00A Status Symbol Goes Public<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16 style131"><strong>Nader Rahman <em>and</em> Elita Karim</strong></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16"><span class="style130"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/07/02/cov01.jpg" align="right" height="200" width="152" />I</span>n a developing country such as Bangladesh one of the foundations of development is communication, whether that be by road, air or post. And like any other emerging nation Bangladesh lacks the infrastructure to facilitate proper and meaningful communication between the massive rural and densely populated urban areas. The telephone is therefore considered the easiest means of communication, yet in Bangladesh it suffers from severe problems. The number of fixed land lines is paltry compared with the population, the network they cover is minute and leaves out large portions of rural areas and lastly one must tackle institutional corruption at every level to buy a phone line legitimately (ironic isn't it). Only recently has there been a way out of the mess and that has been with the help of mobile phones.</p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/07/02/cov02.jpg" align="left" height="200" width="172" />Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus once said that the quickest way to get out of poverty was to have a mobile phone and in many ways he was not far off the truth. While a mobile phone is not the golden ticket out of poverty, it is a positive step in the right direction as it helps to bridge the digital divide and in the process empowers the rural owners. There is much anecdotal and statistical evidence to prove the fact that mobile phones act as an accessible tool to improve the livelihoods of individuals and groups in developing countries and none more than Bangladesh. With mobile phone prices (both sim cards and the cell phones themselves) decreasing almost everyday it has become far easier to own one in Bangladesh these days. The effect they have had on the nation has been immense and cannot be accurately measured. The villages are now connected with the cities if not always by road but with the help of cell phones and in the process rural Bangladesh has been brought closer to the economic hubs of the urban areas. The lives of individuals and groups have been changed forever as our almost prehistoric communication routes were given a 21st century make over. The days of waiting for letters from the village for news and information are over, now a simple inexpensive phone call can be made to keep in touch. What took hours by road is now just a second and a phone call away, aside from connecting families it has had a profound effect on business and entrepreneurs around the country.</p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="170"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/07/02/cov03.jpg" height="250" width="209" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="osdn-navtext">Very few lives have been left untouched by the cellular phone.</td> </tr> </tbody></table><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">For 39-year-old Mohammad Alamgir, a fishmonger at the Karwan Bazaar Wholesale Market, mobile phones have changed his business practises so much so that now he cannot afford to be without one. “Before we had to wait (in the market) till early morning till the fish came and then based on the number caught, their size and weight we fixed an informal price at which we would sell," he says. "That was hard work, but that was the way it had always been. The problems with that way was first the unreliability-- sometimes the fishermen would not come and we would be waiting for them, they were lured to other markets where they thought they could get a higher price. That was very bad for us.”</p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Ever since mobile phones became cost affective to the average man Alamgir changed his business practices, as he continues, “A few years ago I heard about a trader that purchased a mobile phone for himself and his chief supplier and how it did wonders for his business. I took a risk and decided to do the same, I purchased a mobile phone and persuaded the main supplier to buy one as well and since then my business has turned around. While no one can guarantee sure-fire profits my business has been far more stable since then. I can now call and ask how many fish have been caught and discuss the prices with the other traders. Aside from that I can call other markets and check the prices there, so that I can compete with them. The benefits have been many but the only downside was the fact that it was not very cheap. Seven taka for one minute was a lot for me, but since then prices have come down. Now it is more affordable.”</p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="170"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/07/02/cov04.jpg" height="167" width="250" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="osdn-navtext">With all call rates plummeting, the cell phone is the most efficient form of communication.</td> </tr> </tbody></table><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">His story is not an isolated one as many hundreds of thousands of Bangladeshis have benefited from widespread dispersion of mobile phones. But while the number of mobile phone subscribers has increased dramatically (roughly 25 million) since its inception in Bangladesh in 1993, most of it has only occurred in the last few years as the major mobile phone companies went on a price war against each other. The early years of the mobile phone industry in Bangladesh were just as shady as the BTTB is now as for four years one company ran an absolute monopoly in the cellular phone sector. As is common in a monopoly the prices were exorbitant and the mobile phone became a sort of status symbol for the rich and famous rather than a tool for the ordinary people as it is now. The prices of those early phones ran into the lakhs as government nepotism let one company rape the market for all that it was worth. </p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="left" border="0" width="170"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/07/02/cov05.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="osdn-navtext">The mobile phone has had a profound effect on business around the country.</td> </tr> </tbody></table><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Those were truly dark times but then with the second democratically elected government after Ershad, a few more companies threw their hat in with the competition and as a result the prices plummeted dramatically. Dramatic as the fall may have been the prices were still out of the reach of the common man, it was still essentially a rich man's toy. With four companies competing there was only one way the prices could have gone and that was down and slowly as the prices plummeted, the networks began to widen; slowly but surely all of Bangladesh was being brought under the network of cell phone operators. There were two major challenges for the cell phone operators, if they really were to persuade the majority of the population to buy a phone they had to first lower their prices. Not just the price of the sim card but also the call rates which were still very high. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Along <span class="style16">with that they had to offer coverage around the country. They got there soon enough and along the way a market leader was established. It has only been in the last few years that the prices of mobile phones have really come down and in those few years the number of cell phone subscribers has gone through the roof. As a result a wider cross-section of people have been able to purchase a phone and along with just being connected there are now added benefits they give to small businesses around the country. </span></p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="170"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/07/02/cov06.jpg" align="right" height="200" width="137" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right">Cell phones are an essential accessory for the urban youth.</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">42-year-old Mohammad Noman has been running a small shop in the village of Madarsha, Hathazari, Chittagong for the last year and a half. Like every other young man in the locality, he had his heart set on moving to the Middle East and working there to build a life for himself and his family. He lived and worked in Kuwait for a few years before returning to his village and opening up a small store.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Noman has been using the mobile phone for the last 7-8 years. "There was a time when there were only a handful of mobile phones in the village," he says. "The rates were higher than they are now. But I had to use it to be in touch with people I was doing business with in Chittagong, Dhaka and other places of the country."</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">For him, the mobile phone has actually been a boon. "Now I even place calls abroad and keep myself informed which in turn helps me run my business." "I also appreciate the low rates and the other services that have made my life easier."</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Noman says that life would not have been the same if he did not have his mobile phone. "Taking away my phone would probably have me lose all my money," he exclaims. "I would probably incur the same amount of losses if I closed down my store for two months or so."</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Noman is a good example of just how much the widespread proliferation of mobile phones has benefited ordinary people. The phone has helped him with his small scale business as well as his personal life. The cellular phone is no longer a device used only by the rich city slickers, Noman, for instance is from the heart of rural Chittagong. It is in fact a tool which has found its way deep into every nook and cranny of Bangladesh and in the process multitudes of people are now connected to each other at the touch of a finger. For an emerging nation such as Bangladesh it has been said that the spread of mobile phones may add 0.6% to the GDP every year. Aside from that it has greatly affected the <span class="style16">social structure of the nation as many women often neglected in villages are now empowered with simply one mobile phone. </span> </p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="170"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/07/02/cov07.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td><div class="osdn-navtext" align="right">Staying connected with loved ones could not get any easier.</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">The Village or Polli Phone programme is a programme set up by Grameen Telecom where a phone is provided for a village without access to a fixed telephone line and a woman is given responsibility of it and charges for the use of the phone and pays a proportion back to Grameen Phone. Women are typically awarded ownership of the phone instead of men, as they have turned out to be more reliable as creditors and as a result the social structure is changing ever so slightly in the rural areas, which is a lot for just one small phone to do. Aside from the Polli Phone scheme there are also huge numbers of women who have borrowed money from Grameen Bank and have used the micro credit scheme to purchase mobile phones and then rent them out on a call-by-call basis.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">The benefit to the disadvantaged areas of Bangladesh mobile phones have had is immense. Many of the stories that come out of those areas are like that of Farida Begum and her children. Fifty-five-year-old Farida Begum, a housewife, with three married daughters and two sons, one of them in Saudi Arabia, says that the mobile phone is probably one of the greatest human inventions ever. "My daughters are married now and live in places away from here," she explains. "It's not possible for them to come and visit me now and then, and neither is it possible for me to leave my home and move around from one place to another. I speak to my daughters at least every other day now and am always updated with their lives."</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Farida's son in Saudi Arabia is in constant touch with his family, especially his mother. "I realise that the rates might be a little high," she says. "But I can always call my son whenever there is a need to and he calls me every other day as well."</p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="170"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/07/02/cov08.jpg" height="134" width="200" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td><div class="osdn-navtext" align="right">Cell phones are part and parcel of corporate life.</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Farida's youngest son, Mohammad Ershad who owns a small printing press near Hathazari says that everyone owns a mobile phone these days. "Even people living in the remotest parts of the villages own mobile phones", he says, "I use mine to stay in touch with my family when I am away at work. Mostly, I used it to stay in touch with my clients and also to keep myself updated with information regarding paper quality, rates and so on."</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Mobile phones are thankfully, no longer the status bearers they were before. In 14 years they have transformed the nation in a way one can only imagine. Even the remotest villages are now merely a phone call away. In the process they have altered the social fabric in a small but noticeable way. Women are no longer the blind followers in the pack, they have emerged as leaders. The effect they have had on the country cannot be measured fully but by potentially adding 0.6% to the GDP every year it cannot be discounted either. From the north of the country right down to the south the industry has touched almost everyone in sight and brought a country together in an unimaginable way. Bangladesh is known for its climatic uncertainty, the roads and rivers seemingly work at will and the citizens are held hostage by the weather. In the past news of floods, drought, death and birth were all slow in coming and when passed down through word of mouth, often quite unreliable. With the widespread usage of mobile phones all the information from the village to the city, from the moffasil to the metropolis is only seconds away. From calling a friend over for lunch to calling a farmer for fresh fruit the mobile phone has brought people together and in the words of professor Yunus may just lift us out from poverty.</p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16"> </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16"> </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="center"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;" ><b>Copyright (R) thedailystar.net 2007</b></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="center"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Volume </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><strong>6</strong> Issue</span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><b> 27</b></span> | <strong><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >July 13</span></strong><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><strong>, 2007</strong></span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" > |</span></p>Elita Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15708378163417621945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5036007291687052740.post-8972078394125142552007-08-25T18:11:00.002+06:002007-08-25T18:12:13.131+06:00Enhancing the Dark<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="style71"><em></em></span><span class="style17 style53"><span class="style36"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8"><span class="style73"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/04/03/music01.jpg" align="right" height="302" width="300" />B</span>eing of a race where people tend to judge a book merely by its cover, I must admit that the first impression that I had upon casting a glance at the black and red cover-sleeves of Adhar thrust into my hands by a patron of music, was not a very agreeable one. I thought to myself, another group of youngsters drenched in bloody tears, dressed in black rags, visiting grave yards on a weekly basis to define the so-called 'heavy metal' culture in Bangladesh? “I don't think I can deal with another one,” I smiled politely at the patron, hoping that he would not take it too hard since he seemed to like it very much. “You shall listen to it, right now, in my office,” he exclaimed to which I could do nothing but smile sheepishly, while looking for excuses to leave his office located on Elephant Road.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">The very next second I realised I was wrong. Not only was I too soon in judging Adhar as one of those bands which tend to pop up every other day in the locality, but I was also wrong in assuming that the music would never appeal to me. In fact, Adhar's debut album Adhare Apshori, a G-series production, seemed to introduce me to several elements that I find absent in many of the younger, struggling bands today. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">For one thing, I was struck by the band's innovativeness while listening to each track. Each number in the album defines a particular thought, emotion and even a particular genre. Each composition is marked as belonging to the types of rock fusion, east -- west R&B fusion, alternative, mellow, rock mellow, alter fusion and so on. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">The band's experimentation in terms of fusing and mixing the different musical ingredients that many of us experience around us is apparent in the album. There is the aggression along with the smooth vocalising and harmonising in many of the numbers, not to mention the use of universal sounds like the flute, for instance, creating a pacifying bridge with the rock fusions or alternative numbers. I thought I also heard a little bit of sarcasm and wittiness gelled in compositions like Kaare Naeyna, where the pathos of a lover in pain would have a listener nod in agreement and at the same time laugh out loud at the use of colloquial jargon. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">After listening to the album (recorded at NMN Adhar station) and understanding what Nopel (Vocals and Guitars), Nomon (Bass and Keys), Sohel (Drums and Percussions), Tomal (Supporting Vocals) tried to express through their music, the black and red cover-sleeves did make some sense to someone as vaguely connected to the world of the graphic designs as I am. The simple yet eye-cacthing shapes and motifs created by Nopel along with the photography done by Raju and Hira (Banglalok) identifies clearly with the compositions in the album, i.e., coming in terms with imperfections, which makes life absolutely perfect. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">With Adhare, I could not help but envision a bunch of talented young people who have probably seen a lot on the streets of Dhaka, blending their shocking ideas to come out with something like <em>Adhare Apshori</em>.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="unnamed2 style8" align="center"> </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="unnamed2 style8" align="center"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;" ><b>Copyright (R) thedailystar.net 2007</b></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="unnamed2 style8" align="center"> <span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" > Volume </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><strong>6</strong> Issue </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><b>1</b></span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><b>5</b></span> | <strong><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >April 20</span></strong><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><strong>, 2007</strong></span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" > |</span></p>Elita Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15708378163417621945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5036007291687052740.post-76088231902406129602007-08-25T18:11:00.001+06:002007-08-25T18:11:20.917+06:00Remembering the Dream Maker<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style65" align="left"><span class="style67"><strong></strong><br /> <span class="style68"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/04/04/tri01.jpg" align="right" height="201" width="300" />I</span> had met Imran Ahmed Chowdhury, popularly known to all musicians as Mobin, during the Ampfest concerts that had taken place in Bangladesh in 2005. The alternative rock band Black was playing an unplugged at the Hotel Sonargaon along with the Pakistani band, Strings. Incidentally, Mobin was the Sound Engineer that night, supervising sound requirements for Black. I was mostly silent around him, keeping a respectful distance from a senior, established sound engineer and musician, looked up to by many in the music fraternity both in Bangladesh and Kolkata. I had heard and seen so much of his skills and all-worldly knowledge of music and sound equipment, that I figured it would be better to silently watch him at work rather than get involved in some kind of a conversation.</span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">That's when he comes up to me and asks if I am old enough for his non-vegetarian jokes, which he would gladly share with me via SMS. "Don't look so stunned," he exclaims at my open-mouthed expression. "Everyone else is enjoying them. I wondered if you were interested." Truly enough, at the Green Room, the men as usual were laughing their guts out at something they were reading out on their cell phones, shared by their Mobin bhai. Mobin bhai's quip worked as an icebreaker for me and very soon I became a part of the gang guffawing over his silly jokes. That was the first and the very last day that I ever spoke to him. On April 20, 2005, a microbus, with Black, fellow musician Tanim and 36-year-old Mobin, headed home from a Djuice concert in Chittagong met with a fatal accident at 4:30 AM, where members of the band were critically injured and Mobin lost his life.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">Mobin's musical and engineering talents became known to all in the late 80s. He worked with musicians from all the different streams, namely Miles, Feedback, Aurthothin, Cryptic Fate, LRB, James and many more. Mobin joined Sound Garden, a recoding studio in 1994 and eventually created a new dimension in the area of understanding sound and engineering in the country. He mixed albums like Charpotro, an album that introduced rock music and the existing rock bands as such in Bangladesh, namely Artcell and Black. He has been described by his fellow colleagues as extremely fun-loving, a dedicated sound engineer and an addabaj with a quirky sense of humour.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">To date, many still remember Mobin, not only as an asset to the music industry in Bangladesh, but also a great friend. "Mobin brings back a flood of memories not all of it encouraging," says Maqsoodul Huq, whose albums Nishiddho, Ogo Bhalobasha (dHAKA), Bauliana, Deho Ghori of the then Feedback and the song Khuji Tomakey Khuji were mixed by Mobin. "I thought of writing something this year, but (I) think it would be a betrayal of the great faith he had on me first as a musician and secondly as an elder brother, who reasoned with him at all times. Some things I now reckon with, ought not to be spoken or written. Suffice to say he died an embittered man, thanks to all the band music politics. I may say only this -- you really can't keep a good man down -- but it is sad that he had to go back to the Maker this soon!"</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8"> </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="unnamed2 style8" align="center"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;" ><b>Copyright (R) thedailystar.net 2007</b></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="unnamed2 style8" align="center"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Volume <strong>6</strong> Issue <b>1</b></span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><b>6</b></span> | <strong><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >April 27</span></strong><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><strong>, 2007</strong> |</span></p>Elita Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15708378163417621945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5036007291687052740.post-50449782764086897172007-08-25T18:10:00.001+06:002007-08-25T18:10:38.447+06:00Rising from the East<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="unnamed2 style7"> <strong><br /></strong></p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="170"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/07/01/tre01.jpg" height="300" width="197" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right">Bally Sagoo</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style7"><span class="style47">"I</span> so hope to God you are not more than 15-years-old!”-- He is heard saying to a fan who claims to have been listening to Bally Sagoo's music since she was 10. “I have been getting that a lot and it makes me feel so old!” he jokes. Bally Sagoo, a DJ who introduced the melodies of the yester years to the youngsters back in the nineties, recently performed at the Regency Hotel, organised by JPR Events, in collaboration with Radio Foorti, HPC and GMG. Over the last couple of years, JPR Events has flown in international stars namely Udit Narayan, JAL, Yanna Gupta, KK, Bombay Rockers amongst many.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style7">Popular for his hit mixes of classics like “Chura liya”, “Aapki nazron ne samjha” and “Noorie”, Sagoo shocked the Indian entertainment industry with albums like 'Bollywood Flashback' (1994) and 'Rising from the East' (1996).</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style7">Born in Delhi, Baljit Singh Sagoo grew up in a ghetto neighbourhood in Birmingham, England. He was influenced by reggae, disco and rap and disliked the traditional desi music that always seemed to hover around him when he was a child. Back then, his father played with Musafir, a South Asian band. “He used to play the accordion and would manage the band as well,” says Sagoo. “In fact he retired from the band recently but is going on with his music.” With a father, an ardent fan of the music from the black and white era and a mother who has been singing kirtans and religious songs at gatherings and prayer meetings, Bally Sagoo had quite a time developing his musical talents as a youngster. A typical Punjabi family, Sagoo's family immigrated to England like any other Indian family back then looking for more fulfilment in life. “We don't speak English at home,” says Sagoo. He grew up speaking Punjabi at home and English outside.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style7 style44"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/07/01/tre02.jpg" align="left" height="121" width="200" />The Sagoos owned a music store for the last 35 years, which was very popular amongst the South Asians living in the neighbourhood. As a youngster, he would steal records from the store and stay up all night listening and working on the music and then replacing them in the morning. “Since my father has always been an oldies fan, one would always find a lot of classic collections at his store,” he explains. “I used to listen to these tracks and would experiment with the rhythm, the basic melody and then eventually would add new parts to them as well.”</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style7">Sagoo's famous numbers like “Chura liya”, “Chandni raatein”, “Dil cheez”, “Noorie", "Aapki nazron ne samjha”, “O sathi re” and many more numbers from the golden eras of Indian cinema, appealed to the young folk as well as the older generation. Sagoo would pick the original numbers and would create rhythms on his turntable. He would also add new segments to the song, using acoustic guitars, flutes, violins, sometimes a whole orchestra. In spite of re-making and remixing these old numbers, surprisingly enough, Sagoo's versions have in no way corrupted the essence of the songs. Rather, his music has introduced newer dimensions and layers to these compositions. “It basically depends on the musician,” says Sagoo. “I emphasise on the overall sound of a composition, at the same time keeping the basic elements of the composition the way they are.”</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style7">Starting from his home studio in his bedroom called the Currywood Studios, Sagoo has come a long way in the last 15 years. “My first album came out in 1989,” he says. “My actual mixes started to come out in the early 90s, though most of them were done when I was younger.” Much to his parents' dismay, Sagoo was never interested in school and bunked his classes at a regular interval, making special mixes for his friends. “I had lists of requests from my friends in school and would make around 30 pounds every day selling my mixes. That was a lot for a young chap back then!” Sagoo relates a story of his college (university) days when he was caught bunking by his parents. “I started college in 1980 and one day in 1983, I was sleeping when my parents barged into my room and woke me up,” he says. “My mother asked me in Punjabi if I did my classes the day before. I replied saying that it was a holiday of some sort the day before so I had not gone. Then she asked if I went to college the month before. I was silent, which led her to ask me if I actually attended a single class the whole of last year! That is one confrontation with my parents that I will remember for the rest of my life.” Sagoo adds that the traditional upbringing and the discipline that his parents have drilled into him have helped him develop as a human being as well as a musician. “Now of course my parents claim that it was their idea and intention for me to be a world famous musician!” he quips.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style7">Sagoo has also starred in his first movie, “Sajna Ve Sajna”, based on an Indian immigrant belonging to a typical Indian family, in love with a “gora,” as Sagoo puts it, referring to a white woman. “I am the guy!” he says laughing. “I have also produced the soundtracks and am working with big Bollywood star-musicians like Alka Yagnik, Sonu Nigam, Sunidhi Chauhan amongst many more.” </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style7">Bally Sagoo is looking for new artists and musicians from all around the world. His record label, Ishq Recods, has signed up with many such musicians who are now working with Sagoo on a regular basis. “Currently I am working on Arabic and South Indian music,” he says. “I don't understand the languages. That's why I will be flying down to these places later on this year and will sit with the locals to work on the songs.” Experimenting with music of all languages, Sagoo is also looking forward to working with Bangali artistes. “All you have to do is log on to www.ballysagoo.com and send in your demos,” he says.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style7">Bally Sagoo will soon be producing western artists in the near future. “My music is for the mainstream audience,” he says. “Not everyone might understand the words and lyrics, since I work with compositions belonging to many different languages. That is why I am always emphasising on the instruments and the melody.”</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style7">He is proud to be an Indian, “loud and proud,” as he puts it on his website. “But I'm also British. I hope to have captured all these influences in my music for people all around the world to relate to. For me, my music represents bringing different worlds together and uniting them as one,” he says.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style7"> </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="center"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;" ><b>Copyright (R) thedailystar.net 2007</b></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="center"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Volume </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><strong>6</strong> Issue </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><b>2</b></span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><b>6</b></span> | <strong><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >July 6</span></strong><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><strong>, 2007</strong></span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" > |</span></p>Elita Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15708378163417621945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5036007291687052740.post-92154418493883152732007-08-25T18:09:00.001+06:002007-08-25T18:09:48.263+06:00Migratory Workers: Will Their Lives Get Any Better?<strong><br /></strong> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16"><span class="style125"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/06/05/cover01.jpg" align="right" height="290" width="200" />I</span>t is an all too familiar scene-- the long queue of tired-looking men waiting for hours on end outside some shabby-looking office that seems to hold all their hopes and dreams. Outside Mideast Staffing in Banani, is such a line. One group of men seems all set to fly off to Dubai, dressed in yellow matching Mideast Staffing t-shirts and are just finishing up with the last minute formalities. One of them is Nazrul Islam, a thirty-something man who had to sell three bighas of his family land to pay Tk 2,00,000 to the recruitment office. Asked why he thought it was necessary to sell off his family property when he could have easily set up a small business of his own in Bangladesh instead, he says, "I will come back and buy back the three bighas of land along with ten more bighas of land with the money that I earn from Dubai."</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">The big smile on his face reflects the anticipation of a better future that every migrant worker carries when starting this long and uncertain journey.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">While many dreams do come true for them it is also true that migrant workers are one of the most susceptible sections of the labour force in Bangladesh. At least five million Bangladeshis live abroad sending around USD 6 billion remittances every year -- a major source of the government's foreign exchange. They are forever facing hardships both at home and in the host countries. Most of the migrant workers come from rural villages in Bangladesh and are often taken advantage of by various agents and middlemen. They are made to pay large sums of money to migrate to another country, just to go through yet another series of harassment by their foreign employers.</p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="200"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/06/05/cover02.jpg" height="282" width="400" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td><div class="osdn-navtext" align="right"><strong>These days different organisations such as BOMSA give migrant workers basic skills training that proves to be invaluable for migrant workers</strong></div></td> </tr> </tbody></table><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Naz Groups of Associates, another recruitment office in Banani, has been working in the country sending migrant workers all over the world for over 25 years. Over the years, the company has been reviewing its policies of sending workers abroad and has introduced many strategies to overcome the obstacles that the workers seem to face.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">"One of the biggest problems that the workers face when they go to their destination countries is their lack of the appropriate skill," says Hafizur Rahman, the General Manager of the company. Naz Groups has opened up a vocational training section, where the workers are made to go through various kinds of skills training before flying off to their destination countries. "They are trained to fix pipes, work with wood, plaster even sewing and repairing electronic goods," he adds.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Twenty-two-year-old Murshed Islam is bunking out at the mess with a few other people at the accommodations provided by Naz Groups, and comes from all the way from Gazipur. Very soon he will be leaving for Dubai and has registered with the vocational training school to train himself as a carpenter. While working on a staircase, a part of his practical classes, Murshed says that he had to pay at least Tk 2,50,000 for all the paperwork and formalities to the recruitment office. "My father has a small business," says Murshed. "He is sponsoring me along with my elder brother who is also paying a part of the money." Murshed believes that once he comes back home, he will be able to pay back the full amount to his father and brother and eventually offer a better life to his family.</p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="200"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/06/05/cover03.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td><div class="osdn-navtext" align="right"><strong>The Daily Star - RMMRU roundtable discusses ways to lessen the burden of the migrant worker</strong></div></td> </tr> </tbody></table><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">It is not only the families of the migrant workers that benefit from the hard-earned savings that they send home. The remittance that these migrant workers send back to the country contributes immensely in terms of structural and financial developments. According to Dr. Tasneem Siddiqui, the Chairperson of Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU), about 46 per cent of the total remittances are channelled through official sources, 40 percent through hundi, a quick, relatively cheap and easy method of transferring money from one country to another, 8 per cent hand-carried by the migrant, and 6 per cent through friends and relatives. "Most migrant workers are from the rural areas of the country and they go to other countries leaving their families behind in the hopes of developing one's own family," she says. "They bring back remittances in cash and also in kind, for instance in the form of gold, electronics, television sets and other valuables." Previously, migration has always been seen to make developmental and positive impacts in the host or the receiving countries. However, successive governments in Bangladesh have begun to realise the importance of remittance to the economy since the 1990s.</p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="200"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/06/05/cover04.jpg" height="152" width="200" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td><div class="osdn-navtext" align="right"><strong>Sumaiya Islam, the Project Director of BOMSA, believes that the right to information is the solution to the migrant workers' problems.</strong></div></td> </tr> </tbody></table><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Remittance is currently, the second highest foreign exchange earning sector after garments manufacturing. According to the research done by RMMRU, for the last two decades, remittances have been around 35 per cent of export earnings, making it the single largest source of foreign currency. If the cost of import of raw materials is adjusted, then the earnings from remittances are higher. Remittances also constitute an important source of the country's budget. They can always play a major role in reducing Bangladesh's dependence on foreign aid. The steady flow of remittances has resolved foreign exchange constraints, improved the balance of payments and helped to increase the supply of national savings.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">A recent roundtable session organised jointly by The Daily Star and RMMRU discussed the many obstacles faced by Bangladeshi workers abroad. Siddiqui, mentions in her paper on Safe Migration and Remittance that on an average at least 300,000 people have migrated from Bangladesh annually over the last five years, as short-term contract workers. It is common knowledge that Bangladesh has always been participating in the supply side of the global labour market, being a massive labour surplus country. "This has actually increased the global demand in the market," says Siddiqui.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">There are two types of voluntary international migration that take place in Bangladesh -- long-term migration and the short-term migration. Long-term migration is usually made to the west and generally includes those with permanent residency, work permit holders and professionals. Short-term migration is usually made to the Middle Eastern countries and South East Asian countries, where a majority of the workers from Bangladesh migrate. It involves contractual work. These short-term migrants are classified under professional, skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers.</p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="200"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/06/05/cover05.jpg" height="270" width="200" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right"><strong>The long wait - outside a recruiting agency.</strong></div></td> </tr> </tbody></table><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">According to Bangladesh Bank, migrant remittances increased from USD 3.06 billion (2002-2003) to USD 3.85 billion (2004-2005). Currently, most of the country's remittances come from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, amounting to a total of USD 1462.41 million, where the maximum number of the labour force from Bangladesh migrate to. The Bangladesh Bank reserves hold an amount of almost USD 5 billion as foreign exchanges from remittances and hopes to reach the USD 6 billion mark by the end of this year.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Dr. Siddiqui says that she appreciates Bangladesh Bank's initiative at undertaking various reforms such as allowing floating exchange rate in current account, fixing time limits for remittance transfer, encouraging banks to switch over to electronic fund transfer system, reducing the lead time, allowing expansion of exchange houses and corresponding banks and establishing a system of lodging complaints by the remitters.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">In spite of all this, banks in Bangladesh still handle remittances using the old system and most of the bank branches in the rural areas do not have e-mail or other modern facilities. This is one of the biggest reasons behind the delays the delivery of remittances to families of the migrant workers. "Sometimes it takes up to 12-15 days to deliver the money to a family," said Nazrul Islam of Agrani Bank. "The banks are very old and complicated." Even though a series of private banks have opened up in the country with modern technology and the latest business concepts, the rural villages do not have access to them. These private banks have branched out only to the main sections of the big cities unlike the local banks that have a branch or two in at least every thana.</p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="200"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/06/05/cover06.jpg" height="192" width="200" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right"><strong>Dr. Tasneem Siddiqui says that upon return the migrants' plight continues in the absence of institutional opportunities for economic reintegration. </strong></div></td> </tr> </tbody></table><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">ATM Nasir Uddin, the Executive Director of Bangladesh Bank says that the bank has undertaken a project called the Automated Payment System, which deals with many of the internal glitches that the banks in the country go through. "Once this project becomes a success, the communication and the netting between the many banks within and outside the country will improve and thereby erase the primitive obstacles that the local banks face every other day," he says.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Dr. Siddiqui's paper on 'Safe Migration and Remittance' points out the unscrupulous recruitment practices that have led to high costs, fraud and pauperisation of a section of migrant workers. Because the laws, ways of society, the environment and even the nature of the employers are so unpredictable to the migrant worker on his or her way to work far away from home, many workers are exploited and taken advantage of. For instance, they are given irregular wages, they are made to work in terrible working conditions and, sometimes, even their movements come under heavy restrictions. Upon return, says Siddiqui, the migrants' plight continues in the absence of institutional opportunities for economic reintegration.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Even though most of the workers still go to the Middle East, many young men have drifted towards Malaysia in recent years, despite the horrifying stories of harassed Bangladeshis still living in The Southeast Asian country. Hafizur Rahman, the General Manager of Naz Groups believes that the problems actually lie between the pre-immigration period till the worker gets the job. "The immigration procedure in the Malaysian airport has changed a great deal," he says. "They now check fingerprints of the workers, along with their photographs and other details while verifying the visas." After that the workers are put up together, sometimes 30-40 in one room by the agent, till all the paper work is completed in Malaysia for the worker to begin with the job. "Sometimes it takes even as long as 15 days," says Rahman.</p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="200"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/06/05/cover07.jpg" height="214" width="300" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right"><strong>Shiekh Rumana, a migrant worker who worked in Malaysia for six years(left), Parul Akhtar, preparing herself at BOMSA for Dubai.</strong></div></td> </tr> </tbody></table><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">However, Sumaiya Islam, the Project Director Bangladesh Ovibashi Mohila Sramik Association (BOMSA) says that these workers are not properly informed by the recruitment agencies nor is any initiative taken by the government to ensure this right to information. "Two major issues that the government should look into are right to information and national focus regarding migration to other countries," she says, "When a major chunk of the contribution to the country's economy depends on the remittance that the migrant workers send to Bangladesh, there should be proper policies implemented by the government, so that the migrant workers are not taken advantage of in their home countries and also their host countries."</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16"><span class="style125">B</span>OMSA has been working with female migrants for years now and sending female workers in countries like the UAE, Mauritius, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Kuwait. "Most of these women go as homeworkers," says Lily Jahan, the Project Coordinator. "These women come from rural areas and have never even seen a proper refrigerator. They go through three stages of training: orientation, pre-departure and skills training. They are taught to use sandwich makers, rice cookers, washing machines, cookers and stoves."</p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="200"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/06/05/cover08.jpg" height="134" width="200" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right"><strong>An agent at Naz Groups, looking for a hundred migrant workers for a private company in the Middle East. </strong></div></td> </tr> </tbody></table><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Parul Akhtar is getting ready to go to Dubai. A mother of two children, she has come all the way from Noakhali, to get her training at BOMSA. She will be a homeworker in Dubai and had to pay around Tk 35,000 to the recruiting agency. "My family cannot cope with my husband's earnings," she says, "That's why I decided to work abroad. I will get to come back home after every three years for a month or two for a vacation."</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Sheikh Rumana, the General Secretary of BOMSA, worked in Malaysia in the Garments Factory for six years. She had to pay Tk 45,000 to Happy International in Malibagh to complete her paperwork and go to Malaysia to work. "I was one of the lucky ones since my accommodation arrangement was not as bad as the others," she says, "However, I was not given the facilities that I was promised before leaving Dhaka. For the first three years, I could not send anything back home. For the first week, we were given meals as was promised. Afterwards, we were charge for our food. Eventually, we were also being charged for the electricity, which was supposed to be paid for as well."</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">According to Sumaiya, female migrant workers are supposed to migrate for free, since the visas and the travel costs come from private employers looking for homeworkers. "In fact, they are also provided with USD 200 along with the visa," she says, "Where does the money go? It's obvious that the recruitment office keeps it."</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">In fact, in Saudi Arabia, visa processing costs exactly SR 2000. However, the migrant workers here pay close to at least SR 10,000 only for the visa to the recruitment offices. "This happens because the migrant workers are not informed about anything, as they should be," asserts Sumaiya.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Many migrant workers believe that if not VIP treatment, there should be some added benefits, too for them when they enter the country. They should be given a tax holiday, check-in and clearing facilities at the airport have to be improved. The authorities should put more emphasis on this neglected sector by giving the migrant workers more incentives, and it can also come up with investment packages that will help build a prosperous Bangladesh. There must be recognition for those who toil in extreme circumstances in an alien land. A proper effective migration policy is integral to the economic development of our country. It could make a world of difference to the lives of hundreds and thousands of migrant workers of this country.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16"> </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16"> </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="center"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;" ><b>Copyright (R) thedailystar.net 2007</b></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="center"> <span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" > Volume </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><strong>6</strong> Issue </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><b>2</b></span><strong><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><a href="file://///Starnet2/starnet/magazine/2007/06/03/cover.htm">cover</a></span></strong><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><strong>, 2007</strong></span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" > |</span></p>Elita Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15708378163417621945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5036007291687052740.post-42059561358228129272007-08-25T18:07:00.000+06:002007-08-25T18:08:24.497+06:00What's in a Brand?<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/04/02/business01.jpg" align="right" height="112" width="150" />Juliet has intellectuals and lovers swooning in agreement when she exclaims at roses smelling just as sweet with any given name whatsoever. “What's in a name,” as she voices out William Shakespeare in the famous tragedy Romeo and Juliet. However, there is definitely something in showing off those Nikes while walking back home with friends. Diamond carvings of all kinds seem like glass when compared to Nakshatra. Choosing between Gucci and Swatch sometimes becomes a mind-boggling task, while witnessing the 'cold-war' between Pepsi and Coca-Cola for decades. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">In today's world where competition has seized yet another precious part of life, branding seems to be a concept that plays a very significant role in the choices that we make in our daily lives. For instance food that we eat, the newspapers we read, the clothes we wear, the accessories and electronic appliances that we use and even the car that we drive lead us to become players unknowingly in both the local and international markets. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/04/02/business02.jpg" align="right" height="264" width="80" />In Bangladesh, the conventional trade mindset regarding running businesses has mostly been based on importing goods and selling them without actually creating any kind of value addition in the market. Therefore, consumers would naturally prioritise and focus on price of a product rather than need, quality and service. All one has to do is wait till the next player enters the scenario with products claiming to be of better quality and cheaper price and the market has a new ruler. Thus the beginning of cut-throat competition where there is always the risk of being driven out of the market. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">However, the local market in Bangladesh has been conquered by the global market. For instance, through understanding the needs of the consumers, the Indian brand of Parachute took over the hair oil market in Bangladesh, where Aromatic ruled the industry for a long time. “However, if one looks in to the Aromatic or the entire soap market,” says Shariful Islam, the CEO of Brandzeal, a brand consultancy firm, “very few local soaps or similar products follow a proper brand management process and drive themselves into building a brand that would enter and thrive in the market for a brief period of time and then falter.” Even then, Bangladesh happens to be a haven for the international markets in terms of cheap labour and raw materials. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">“Understanding of branding is essential as it is the starting point of building a sustainable business model,” says Islam. “Today we see only a handful of local brands which have been sustaining and growing in the last 20-25 years in Bangladesh.” </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">Brandzeal has organised the first Bangladeshi Brand Forum comprising of leading national and international brand experts, in partnership with the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) and Global Brand Forum from Singapore and Grameen Phone as the platinum sponsor. The forum will hold a two-day long seminar on April 28 and 29 at Hotel Sonargaon where local and international experts will be brought together to share their insights and knowledge regarding the subject. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/04/02/business03.jpg" align="right" height="225" width="90" />The speakers who will be attending the seminars are S Karthik, the Chairperson of Global Brand Forum from Singapore, Tofael Rashid, New platform Director, PepsiCo International, Steven Van Der Kruit, Creative Director of Firmenich, Argha Sen, Head of Marketing and CRM of Toys LiFung, the Asia franchise of Toys R Us, Sudas Roy, Professor of Marketing from, Rubaba Dowla Matin, Head of Brands and Customer Management, Grameen Phone, Ata Safdar, Managing Director of Reckitt Benckiser, Muneer Ahmed Khan, Chairperson and Creative Head of Unitrend Ltd., Mushtaq Ahmed, Managing Director of Marks and Allys and Professor Ferhat Anwar from IBA. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">Aside from the seminars, a brand concept fair will take place at IBA on the same days where key marketing and branding techniques will be emphasised through concept booths, instead of company booths. “Each booth will represent an idea, its concept theory and a real life example,” says Islam. For instance the concepts of Segmentation, Planning and many other elements will be explained very graphically where students will enact parts for live examples. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">It's time for Bangladesh to be heard in the global market. As a school of advertising says, "If the consumer has heard of us, we've done our job.” </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8"> </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="unnamed2 style8" align="center"> </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="unnamed2 style8" align="center"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;" ><b>Copyright (R) thedailystar.net 2007</b></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="unnamed2 style8" align="center"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Volume </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><strong>6</strong> Issue </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><b>1</b></span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><b>4</b></span> | <strong><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >April 13</span></strong><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><strong>, 2007</strong></span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" > |</span></p>Elita Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15708378163417621945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5036007291687052740.post-27894856765646221652007-08-25T18:04:00.000+06:002007-08-25T18:06:08.704+06:00Bangla's Voice against Poverty<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16"><span class="style72">O</span>ver the years, Bangla, the rock group, has come to be an icon of culture in Bangladesh. Not only do they showcase the ancient folk traditions of the land, they have also successfully brought the ancient form of music, to the delight of the young music lovers, redefining folk-fusion music in the country. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Bangla represented Bangladesh at the anti poverty concert titled Your Voice against Poverty, where some of the biggest icons of music in the world such as Bono, the lead singer of U2 and Bob Geldolf performed, held earlier this month in Rostock, Germany. Simultaneously, the G8 summit was taking place at nearby Heiligendamm. Mocked as the P8 summit, Bangla did feel a little strange representing Bangladesh as one of the eight poorest nations of the world. The others were Bolivien, Kambodscha, Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba from Mali, Mo' Some Big Noise from Mozambique, Perrozompopo from Nicaragua, Leo Muntu and Menshan from Sambia and Peter Miles and Menshan from Uganda. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/06/04/ev02.jpg" align="right" height="188" width="250" />Anusheh, from the band Bangla, explains this as one of the show of their lifetime and feels extremely lucky to have been given a chance to voice out along with the thousands of supporters who were expressing their sentiments along with the musicians. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">The band's first performance was at Halle, near Leipzig on June 1. “As soon as we landed at the airport, we were greeted by our manager Carmen,” says Anusheh. “She immediately handed each of us an orange sheet filled with our scheduled programmes and was with us throughout the trip.” Other than Anusheh, Buno and Onob, guitarist Kartik joined them, along with Nazrul the dhol player and Ishmail, a British Trinidadian percussionist who played the drums with Bangla. Ishmail is now working regularly with Bangla as well and had even played in their last album.<br /> <br /> </p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" border="0" width="170"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/06/04/en03.jpg" height="208" width="600" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td><div class="osdn-navtext" align="right">Bangla performing at one of the concerts. </div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">On June 4, they performed for the Bangladeshi community in Berlin. “I am sorry to say but this show was probably one of the worst experiences ever,” she says. The show was organised for the seven hundred Bangladeshis who live in Berlin under the same banner of Your Voice against Poverty. “They were sending little slips of notes to us on stage, requesting us to do fast dance tracks and Hindi numbers,” she adds. “There were instances during the performance when I would speak about the purpose of our being there and how they could fight poverty staying there in Berlin. However, I was flabbergasted when I realised how these people actually brought the political dirt to Berlin all the way from Bangladesh, grouping themselves as supporters of BNP and Awami League, and that too clearly stated on their visiting/business cards!” However, the audience was very much indifferent to Bangla's pleas about world harmony and alleviating poverty or just could not under-stand what the 'band party' who had come from Dhaka were actually talking about. “They were busy dancing hip-hop to our music,” she says. “During break, little girls were dancing to popular Hindi music. That was basically the last straw. It's disheartening to see how these people are wasting away their talents, skills and culture away, living in Berlin but mixing up the Bollywood customs along with theirs.” </p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="left" border="0" width="170"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/06/04/ev04.jpg" height="120" width="200" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right">Representatives of the eight poor nations along with Bono and Bob Geldolf at a press conference. Anusheh from Bangla and Dr. Muhammad Yunus represent Bangladesh at the anti poverty concert.</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">On June 6, Bangla witnessed real-life action when they performed at yet another concert organised by Rostock Attac, an anti G8 and anti capitalist organisation. “It was by the Baltic sea, where protestors were listening to the music,” says Anusheh. “They were protesting against the summit and would not let the world leaders enter Germany. That's when the government launched 16,000 police officers in the city.” The protestors were ready and all equipped with ammunition though. “They had shopping carts filled with stones to throw at the officers and special eye drops to use in case the police would begin to bombard them with tear gas!” </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/06/04/ev05.jpg" align="right" height="179" width="200" />When Bangla stepped inside the park in Rostock where the concert was to be held, a day before the grand finale for sound check, “we couldn't stop giggling and smiling like young school kids!” says Anushesh. “It was huge! The stage was massive, probably as big as my apartment. The back stage was as big as the Abahani field in Dhanmondi.” </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">The day of the concert, Bangla, as per the routine that is followed in concerts in Dhaka, were going up to tune and check their instruments. “A group of people came and stopped us,” she says. A technician for each instrument took over to check the instruments for Bangla. “We were asked to just go up on stage waving at the audience like stars and voice out against all the evils in the world!” Bangla performed their very popular Namaaz amar hoilo na aday and their version of SD Burman's Bangladesher dhol in front of 85,000 people. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">The tour for Bangla was jointly sponsored by Netz Bangladesh, a German NGO in Dhaka who has been working for 25 years in Dhaka and Herbert Gronemeyer, a German rock star. The last two songs at the concert were performed by Gronemeyer and Bono, when the thousands of people sang along. "It was a very emotional moment," says Anusheh. "Gronemeyer is truly a very humble person, checking on us every few minutes to see if we were doing ok. I am still fascinated by his passion for music which he used to voice out for the cause that he believes in."</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Nobel Laureate Dr. Mohammad Yunus got up on stage as soon as Bangla got off and literally got the audience to stand up against poverty when they gave him a standing ovation. “His speech was very encouraging and it clearly enthralled the audience,” she says.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">The highlight of the concert must have been when Bono performed the Redemption Song with Youssou N'Dour and Bob Geldof, You Never Give Me Your Money / Carry That Weight with Youssou N'Dour, Bob Geldof, and the Toten Hosen's Campino, and Get Up Stand Up with Youssou N'Dour and Bob Geldof. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">At one of the concerts, Anusheh spoke against giving aid to poor countries, described it as “AIDS” and emphasised on how “it cripples a country”. “Rather than that, there should be more investments in the country so that our people can earn instead of wait for the cash to flow from unknown sources,” she explains. “I got a call later on, where the authorities asked me not to speak against aid giving, since that was the whole purpose of the P8 concert.” </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Did the P8 summit and the Your Voice against Poverty fulfil its purpose and create the impact on the right people? “I have to admit that the whole idea did seem a little utopian,” says Anusheh. “Not everything seemed very realistic to me. But then again we need idealists as well to make the world go round.”<br /> <br /> <img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/06/04/ev06.jpg" height="148" width="620" /><br /> </p> <hr style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16"><br /> <span class="style74">Amid Protests and Music</span><br /> <br /> <span class="style72">P</span>eople all over the world watched earlier this month, as the proceedings of the 33rd G8 summit took place in Germany. The Group of Eight, which includes the governments of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States, the G8 is an international forum representing at least 65% of the world's economy. </span> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">This year, the world leaders focused on investment, innovation and sustainability and good governance, sustainable investment, peace and security in Africa, where the summit's motto was “Growth and Responsibility”. As every year, discussions were held regarding transparency of financial markets, intellectual property and energy efficiency. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor had mentioned at the end of the 32nd G8 summit held in Russia that the summit in 2007 would focus more on the struggle against poverty across the globe. Criticised vehemently by several movement-groups all over the world, the G8 summits taking place every year have been lambasted for indirectly or directly that promote policies that result in weakening the economies of developing nations thereby exacerbating rather than reducing poverty. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">This year, however, a proposal to halve global carbon dioxide emissions by 2050 was announced at the summit. According to a Greenpeace report, it seems there was a clear split between among the G8 member countries regarding this issue. This issue was welcomed by all the members of the summit, except for the US President W. Bush who blocked it until the other major greenhouse gas emitting countries, like India and China make similar commitments.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">The report further said that the governments fought publicly over this issue for days. The discussions and the arguments finally ended with the world leaders agreeing to seriously consider the issue. The G8 nations are said to be responsible for over 80 percent of the climate change and still emit over 40 percent of all global emissions. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Protests and criticisms of the G8 summit were as vehement as they had been in the past years. However, this year the protests took a different turn, coming up with an anti-poverty concert staged to send the world leaders of the G8, a musical message. At least 85,000 music lovers got together in a park in the city of Rostock. They listened to the bands from some of the developing nations of the world and made their political demands addressed to the leaders of the world's richest nations meeting in nearby Heiligendam.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Some of the well-known criticisms about the G8 summit are that the member countries are responsible for several global issues such as poverty in Africa and other developing countries because of debt crisis and unfair trade policy, global warming because of carbon dioxide emissions, AIDS problem due to strict medicine patent policy and other problems that are related to globalisation. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16"> </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16"> </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16" align="center"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 78%;"><b>Copyright (R) thedailystar.net 2007</b></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16" align="center"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;">Volume </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;"><strong>6</strong> Issue </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;"><b>2</b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;"><b>4</b></span> | <strong><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;">June 22</span></strong><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;"><strong>, 2007</strong></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;"> |</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16" align="center"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 78%;"><b><br /></b></span></p>Elita Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15708378163417621945noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5036007291687052740.post-63452881647931480222007-06-15T23:14:00.000+06:002007-06-15T23:15:47.981+06:00Seven Days on the Other Side<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style44"> <span class="style61"><strong><br /></strong><span class="style62"></span></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="left"><span class="style54"><br /></span></p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="center" border="0" width="100"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/06/02/tra01.jpg" height="367" width="490" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right">Faisal Mosque in Islamabad.</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16"><span class="style64"> O</span>n May 22, 2007, a seven-member team of journalists from Bangladesh was invited to a week long tour of Pakistan; a country not on the top of anybody's list for a visit with all the violence and unrest. The delegation comprised of Doulot Akter of The Financial Express, Alpha Arzu of The New Age, Golam Mustofa Sarwar of Ittefaq, Ataul Gani Osmani of The Independent, Salim Zahid of Jugantor, Shariq Rahman of The Probe and myself. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">The scorching heat hit us as soon as we stepped out of Karachi International Airport. Trying with all my might to keep my eyes open and smile at Mr. Salman, the protocol officer who would be accompanying us everywhere in Karachi, I came face to face with McDonalds! It's been more than five years since I had been inside McDonalds, I thought to myself. All around me, burly men dressed in shalwar kurtas were walking by, while burkha-clad women were entering McDonalds keeping a strong hold on toddlers and shopping bags with both hands. </p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="left" border="0" width="100"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/06/02/tra02.jpg" height="237" width="300" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td><div class="osdn-navtext" align="right">Main Street, at the Taxila City Ruins.</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">We drove over one fly-over after another, while on our way to the guesthouse, for which Warid Telecom in Pakistan sponsored the accommodations. Karachi seemed to be an extension of the Middle East, as one elderly journalist had put at the Karachi Press Club that we visited later on. Standing on the borders of desert areas like Baluchistan, a normal summer day in Karachi would be around 37-40 degrees Celsius with hardly any rain in the city. “Karachi would get clogged with water if it ever did rain!” exclaimed Rizwan, one of the Warid officials from Lahore who we met at the guesthouse. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Something that fascinated me on the streets was the local bus in Karachi. Other than the series of buses that carried company logos, advertisements of soft drinks, telecom companies and detergent powders, the local buses of Karachi were a sight to cherish for any foreign visitor. Decorated with colourful paper-cut outs, glittery cloth pieces and flashing aluminium lights, these traditional red buses were as glittery as Christmas decorations. Further down the streets, we even found toy replicas of these traditional buses for foreign visitors to buy as souvenirs. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">We visited the Karachi Press Club the next day. Located at the centre of the city, the ancient architecture of the structure took our breath away. This 117-year-old structure had big windows, broad staircases and high ceilings amongst many other homely features. Beside the club, visitors could loiter around in the lawn and enjoy cups of coffee. The 'homeliness' that I felt within the club did not stop there. The members of the club took us under their wings and gave us a warm welcome. In between all the discussions regarding politics, trade and social issues in both the countries, these elderly journalists reminisced about the years before 1971, when journalists from both the countries worked together. How do they view the war between the two lands in 1971, we ask them. For a moment, there was meaningful silence in the room. Many of these older journalists had been there and probably even saw many of their fellow Bangladeshi colleagues suffer and even sacrifice their lives during the Liberation War. Many of the journalists wanted to say so many things, but all they ended up with was, “What happened back then was very tragic.” Moving on to the present political conditions of the two countries, the same journalist commented on the recent events that had taken place in Karachi. “The people of South Asia end up showing the streak of cannibalism that they possess within. During riots here in Karachi, we saw people lynching young people as old as fourteen and dancing on dead bodies.” Despite the numerous differences that I can count on my fingers between Pakistan and Bangladesh, some things stay the same. </p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="100"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/06/02/tra03.jpg" height="167" width="250" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right">A scene from Food Street in Lahore.</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">The highlight of the Karachi visit was the visit to Clifton beach. Sitting amongst families, school children, camels and horses alike, we came across a young photographer who was walking about from one place to another, asking visitors if anyone would like to take a picture besides the splashing waves or the decorated camels. I kept looking at these camels and horses and wondered at the visitors who were paying Rs 40 to Rs 200 just for a ride. Though I have never been a big animal-person, I have always imagined myself riding a white stallion on the beach, with my hair flying against the wind and music playing in the background. Here was my chance to live my dream. Unfortunately, the horses were too dirty, wobbly and expensive. I had to settle for a camel ride. Alpha Arzu from the New Age and I bargained with a camel keeper, as was the custom, agreed on an amount and finally got ready to ride our camel across the desert (rather the seashore). A word of advice to all those who are always looking for adventure out there, go for a horse ride rather than a camel ride, and even if you do go for a camel, never choose the back seat. While on the camel, my screams of fear and pain were mistaken for screams of joy and excitement. The camel keeper got encouraged and had the camel run faster. That night, I had to walk off the muscle strains before I could sit properly again. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Islamabad seemed to be a different country all together, as compared to Karachi. Comparatively a new city, Islamabad was still under construction as we saw when the delegation landed at around 10:30 pm that night. Divided into sectors categorised under alphabets and numerals, the best thing about the city was its cool weather. Roads and buildings were covered with trees and flowers such as the different hues of bougainvillea. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Islamabad seemed to encompass both modernisation in terms of infrastructural development as well as tradition still holding the remains of ancient civilisations. We were taken to the Taxila museum, situated a little away from the city, and one of the old city ruins as well. History had never seemed so exciting ever before. We gaped in wonder at the statue of the Fasting Buddha from the Gandhara Civilisations, the little glass ornaments, cooking utensils, water purifiers, the architecture.. At an actual Taxila site where the city ruins were kept intact, we saw that this ancient city was planned according to sectors, with residential areas behind the commercial buildings. “The city plans of Islamabad are based on the ancient designs of Taxila,” explained one of the guides at the site. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Visits to Faisal Mosque and Damn-e-Koh confirmed my theory that Islamabad was probably one of the most peaceful cities in the country. The mosque, attached to one of the biggest universities, the Islamic University, was literally covered with marbles and gold. The insides of the mosque had bookshelves lined up where people after prayers could refer to Islamic texts and translations of the Holy Quran. Moreover, the area practically reflected an aura of inner peace and beauty. </p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="100"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/06/02/tra04.jpg" height="165" width="250" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td><div class="osdn-navtext" align="right">Wagha Border in Lahore. </div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Damn-e-Koh is located high up in the mountains, developed further to make it into a colourful spot for tourists. Starting from roadside musicians to monkeys dancing on the footpaths, this place attract a number of visitors and tourists especially during the spring season. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">At the FPCCI and at a meeting with the State Minister for Information, we were told constantly about how Pakistan wanted to have stronger trade relations with Bangladesh. The vice president of FPCCI, Mohammad Farooq Dadabhoy, asserted on the fact that, like all the other countries, Bangladesh should organise single country trade fairs in Pakistan. “We are always interested in exporting goods from Bangladesh,” he says. “Somehow, Bangladeshi traders simply emphasise on import of raw materials from Pakistan, for instance cotton.” </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">We went to Lahore by road, our very last stop. As our coaster drove on the famous motorway, built on the mountains connecting Islamabad and Lahore, the members of the delegation got to know each other better. By then, we had all become used to the Pakistani food, the ways of the society and also the language. In fact, our fantastic grasp on Urdu led us to many victorious, though minor, conquests in Pakistan. For instance, Shagor Sarwar from Ittefaq was looking for paan after a hearty dinner at the famous Food Street in Lahore. After hours of searching for this deshi delicacy, he finally found a roadside stall selling a variety of paan. Smiling like a happy child with all the ice cream in the world to eat, he was seen explaining to the paanwallah, the paan eating habits in Bangladesh. The shopkeeper's look of confusion increased when Shagor said in the strange mix of Bangla and Urdu that he was using to communicate with the natives, “Hum bhi majhe majhe paan khata.” (I tend to eat paan sometimes as well). </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">The State Guesthouse where we were put up in Lahore was more than 250 years old. It was right out of a horror movie, complete with hundreds of rooms with gloomy pictures, king-sized closets and fireplaces. I was certain that dead people often visited the large halls, the breathtaking lawns and the beautifully furnished bedrooms while we slept or were out for the day. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">The historic tombs, palaces created by the Mughal emperors, the legendary Shish Mahal, music blaring out from a nearby tea stall, the chaos and commotion created by traffic jams and large numbers of people walking from one place to another in the city took us all back home to 'good old' Dhaka City. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Food Street, a famous street in Lahore where families dine out, became immensely popular with the delegation. Not only did we get to eat cheap, we also got to witness the real Lahorites, as they call themselves, in action. Food Street, a long stretch of street filled with shops and stores on both sides of the streets, catered to people from all walks of society. The street would open up at around 5 pm and go on till well after midnight to the wee hours of morning. Though most of the food on Food Street is traditional Pakistani, two of the most famous eateries were the only ones selling fish, something that Lahorites tend to eat mostly during the winter season. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">The trip to Pakistan would have been incomplete, if we had not visited the Wagha Border. Thousands of Indians and Pakistanis had thronged each side of the border, singing patriotic numbers, entertaining the audiences with dances and instruments. Soldiers from both the countries showcased their strength, banging their feet on the ground, screaming out incomprehensible words and carrying out identical feats of strength and power amidst the cheering crowds. In the end, soldier representatives from both the countries hoisted their national flags, shook hands on no-man's-land and stepped back into their own territories. To my knowledge, this is probably the only form of bondage that I have ever seen in public between the two nations. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Something that I could not help noting was the contradictions in the way women were seen. There were many women reigning over various professions, for instance journalism, both electronic and print. In fact there were quite a few female camerapersons taking our footage during the meeting with the Governor. However, on the other hand, women were hardly seen on the streets of Pakistan. We were even told that women did not go to cyber cafes in Pakistan as it was not acceptable behaviour on the part of a woman. Thus many of us were stranded in the country with no connection with Bangladesh for a whole week, if one does not count the virus-infected computer at the guesthouse that is. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">There were times when I thought that I saw a little bit of guilt in the eyes of the common people who we met and spoke to randomly on the streets, or even the journalists, once we would tell them that we had come from Bangladesh. The shadow of guilt would flicker in their eyes for a moment and then disappear as quickly as it would appear. “What the authority back then in Pakistan did was not right,” remarked one senior journalist from PTV mentioned to me in Islamabad. “But that authority does not exist anymore and the bond between the people of the two countries should be built once again.” It was obvious that he like many of his compatriots did not see the need for official apologies. I wondered at the hospitality that we received from the people of Pakistan, the love and the care that they gave us in the seven days that we were there and the friendships that we made with many in those few days. “The past still exists in Bangladesh, even though the authority does not, as you say, in Pakistan,” I said respectfully to the elderly journalist, also one of the pioneers of electronic media in Pakistan. “We still have survivors, innocent sufferers and rape victims from the war, living the horror that they did in 1971, even now. I don't know if merely creating a bond of friendship would have anyone forget the atrocities committed 36 years ago.”</p><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;">Volume </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;"><strong>6</strong> Issue </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;"><b>2</b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;"><b>2</b></span> | <strong><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;">June 8</span></strong><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;"><strong>, 2007</strong></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;"> |</span> </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16" align="center"> <span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 78%;"><b>Copyright (R) thedailystar.net 2007</b></span></p>Elita Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15708378163417621945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5036007291687052740.post-10774396586089226812007-06-15T23:13:00.000+06:002007-06-15T23:14:29.707+06:00Experimenting with Expressions<span class="style47"><span class="style49"></span></span><strong><span class="style16"><br /></span></strong> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16"><span class="style51"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/05/04/theatre01.jpg" align="right" height="150" width="200" />S</span>udip Chakroborthy was drawn towards theatre at a very early age. As a youngster at school, he would often skip study time at home in Nabiganj to go and catch the local dramas that would be held in his town. To him, the world of theatre was an abode of emotions and expressions where actors on stage would tell stories, not only through words but also the facial language and expressions in their eyes. The way silence would take over and fill the stage and capture the audience had always fascinated Sudip. Being on stage and experimenting with theatre techniques has always been Sudip's dream ever since. </p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="left" border="0" width="150"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/05/04/theatre02.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="left"><strong>Theatre is a collective art space, says Sudip.</strong></div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Theatre is the greatest of all art forms, according to the famous Oscar Wilde, and the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another, the sense of what it is to be human. It is so much more than the colourful costumes, emotional dialogues and the resulting fame. After finishing with both the undergraduate and the graduate programmes in Theatre from the Department of Theatre, Dhaka University in 2003, Sudip decided to give more time to experimenting with the available techniques in Bangladesh and abroad. Not only did he study the practical aspects of the techniques, but also worked with several theatre activists and university students. An ice breaking session is what every beginner needs.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/05/04/theatre03.jpg" align="right" height="150" width="200" />Eyes shut tight, you relax your muscles and let your body go limp. Ignoring the everyday accumulation of the nitty-gritty inconveniences in life, smoothening up the knotted tension cramped in your muscles and feeling absolutely free for probably the first time in your short-lived life, you let yourself fall from a height and fly. You feel yourself falling backwards, down and suddenly two pairs of arms catch hold of you, preventing you from falling on the ground and hurting yourself. You quickly come to your senses and open your eyes to find several young boys and girls clapping in delight and hooting encouragement. 'Trust Game', is one of the many theatre games that are played with the students and beginners. "Theatre is a collective art space," says Sudip. "One realises the space and scans the activities of one's daily life and behaviour in various ways."</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/05/04/theatre04.jpg" align="left" height="199" width="150" />Very recently, Sudip got an opportunity to work with similar theatre activists in the United Kingdom. The programme 'Contacting The World' (CTW) organised by the British Council gave Sudip and his team to interact first hand with theatre activists from all over the world. "This international theatre festival is organised almost every year, bringing together theatre people from all over the world," says Sudip. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/05/04/theatre05.jpg" align="right" height="157" width="150" />The theatre group from Bangladesh watched and studied several performances held in this programme. "This was a very good experience for all of us," says Sudip. "Not only did we learn from the theatre groups in the UK, but also experienced drama and theatre hailing from other countries as well." According to Sudip, oriental theatre seemed to have a huge technical support, both self-created and maintained. "Some of the works that we saw from many parts of the world were amazing and led us to think in different ways regarding our own theatre practices." </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Where theatre is said to have reined for centuries, the theatre groups in the UK seem to showcase simple elements like love, life, passion and despair and build expressions and stories around the themes. "Simply speaking, the performers in the UK groups played a big role in inspiring and encouraging all the other groups to think positive and take the risk to walk the extra mile," says Sudip."</p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="left" border="0" width="150"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/05/04/theatre06.jpg" height="149" width="200" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="left"><strong>The international theatre festival brought in drama experiences and techniques from diverse cultures.</strong></div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Sudip and his team conducted several workshops, displaying the techniques and elements used in Bangladeshi theatre. With no knowledge of culture, one cannot understand the beauty and the depth of a language. Similarly, members of all the theatre groups from all over the world got a taste of the Bangladeshi culture by participating in the workshops held. "Each group had to work on particular themes and showcase a particular element of one's own culture in the workshops and the dramas held in the end," explains Sudip. "We worked on the relationship between empty space and the props, mask, makeup, costume and the character itself. We also held workshops based on techniques from the indigenous theatre in our country."</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Sudip has been to several countries both attending and conducting theatre workshops, since the last CTW. He thinks that even though there are plenty of theatre resources in Bangladesh, we still don't have the sense of professionalism within us. "Something that I learned at the CTW from the other groups is that their perception of life is very definite and strong," he says. "They take their work very seriously and are always open to new ideas. If we want to better the already built theatre platform that we have in Bangladesh, we have to be open as well ans start taking risks and not be afraid to experiment."</p><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;">Volume </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;"><strong>6</strong> Issue </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;"><b>20</b></span> | <strong><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;">May 25</span></strong><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;"><strong>, 2007</strong> |</span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16" align="center"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 78%;"><b>Copyright (R) thedailystar.net 2007</b></span></p>Elita Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15708378163417621945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5036007291687052740.post-57999646842819101712007-06-15T23:12:00.000+06:002007-06-15T23:13:26.454+06:00Reviving the Colours of Culture<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16"><strong> Srabonti Narmeen Ali and Elita Karim</strong></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style122"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/05/03/cover10.jpg" align="left" height="192" width="200" />The air in Jatra was filled with energy on May 14, as members of the band Bangla and their friends performed for their excited fans. Members of the audience joined in, singing the songs with such enthusiasm that the singers on stage could barely be heard over the clapping and cheering. The 'jam session' marked the end of a week-long festival at the store, in which music and theatre lovers took a journey into the realms of Bangladeshi culture, incorporating 'baul' music, traditional dances, drama, puppet shows and finally, an informal performance by various contemporary musicians of Dhaka. The festival took place from May 7-14, from 5-7 PM.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16 style119"><span class="style123">"F</span>rankly speaking, I don't get to listen to folk music as much as I would like to,” says Fariha Nipu, a sophomore from North South University. “After a day's worth of work, my entertainment options are limited to the television or the music that I download from the internet. This has been a great opportunity for me to actually discover the many elements that give shape to the culture of Bangladesh and thoroughly enjoy them as well.” </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">The festival had performances that captivated people of all age groups. Each day of the festival started with the lighting of the <em>diya</em> by a member of the staff and would end with everyone moving upstairs to the roof for a cup of coffee and <em>shingara</em> at the makeshift cafeteria, especially constructed for the Jatra Festival. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16" align="center"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/05/03/cover13.jpg" height="321" width="550" /><br /> <span class="osdn-navtext">Mustafa Monowar launches the children's book 'Janala Diye Khoka Dekhe' with author Nazia Jabeen, illustrator Nasreen Ahmad and book designer Anusheh Anadil</span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">On the first day of the festival, Fakirs hailing from Kushtia filled the atmosphere with their powerful lyrics and enchanting voices. They used simple instruments like the <em>dhol, dotara</em> and flute which added to the stories they told through their song -- they spoke of the lives they lead, entwined with hints of forbidden love, suffering and an eagerness to explore the world around them. A lot of their expressions dealt with symbolism in daily life, a common feature in Lalon Shah compositions. For instance, Rob Fakir in one of the songs, spoke about how even the beauty of earth and its wonders could not reduce the pain of not seeing one's beloved. However, being with the beloved would not quench one's curiosity of travelling down below into the sea and discover God's creations. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Maya Rani and her troupe performed <em>Pala Gaan</em> on the second day of the Festival. <em>Pala Gaan</em> is a musical dialogue where 'discussions' take place. These discussions usually centre around reality, dreams and faith. Maya Rani's troupe discussed their thoughts on the roles of men and women, as well as religion and spiritualism. </p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="100"> <tbody><tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/05/03/cover14.jpg" height="203" width="300" />On the last day of the festival, various musicians including Bangla's bassist Buno performed for the audience</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">“Allah demands certain duties from man,” says Abdul Alauddin, one of the musicians in the troupe. “The Rasul asked us to be kind to living beings, to act in such a way during our lifetime so that the Almighty will be satisfied. If we don't pray, don't love our fellow beings and resort to violence to get out own way, how can we face God and the Rasul in the after life?”</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">“We go on with our <em>Pala Gaan</em> performances for hours together, sometimes going through sleepless nights as well,” says Maya Rani, explaining the excitement which often grows with every passing moment amongst the audience and the musicians alike. Something that did not go unnoticed was the way each <em>baul</em> would introduce themselves and start a composition; warmly greeting everyone around and thanking them for staying and listening to the compositions. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">On May 9, two famous contemporary musicians, Shayan and Moon enthralled the audience with their performances. Moon sang a few songs from his recently released album, Paper of Ektaar Productions. Shayan sang some of her favourites from Kalim Sharafi and Shahnaz Rahmatullah. Her own compositions sparked a lot of interest because of her spontaneous and often, political lyrics.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">“I think what Anusheh and her team is doing with the Jatra Festival is fantastic,” she says. “I am planning to come and enjoy myself on the other days as well. This is just a mere start, and I hope that Jatra will so something similar once again in the near future.”</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">May 10 held a treat for children with Prachchonaat, the famous theatre group, which </p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="100"> <tbody><tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/05/03/cover15.jpg" height="200" width="300" />Theatre group Prachchonaat performs a comedy about ghosts for the young Jatra audience</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">performed 'Bhuto-bhutomg' and 'Kupokat'. In 'Bhuto-bhutomg', the performers with their improvisation and voice modulation techniques had the children laughing at the young ghost who suffered from the 'Casper, the friendly ghost' syndrome -- he simply could not scare people. Their play, 'Kupokat' was about a jungle meeting, where the rabbit was asked to sacrifice itself to the ever-hungry tiger, for the sake of the honour and dignity of the other animals living in the forest. The children loved the costumes, which successfully completed the look of the jungle set-up, starting from a batting-eyed peacock to a rabbit with no tail. The play was accompanied by live music by Rahul Ananda and his team of theatre musicians. Prachchonaat, although a theatre group that usually does adult drama, hopes to perform more plays for children in the future.</p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">“We have a policy about children,” says Rahul. “'It ends with, 'let the children grow up through the colours of dance, rhythm and fun.'”</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">On May 11, Bhabna presented traditional dance forms and the famous story of Rana, a common man in Bangladesh, which symbolised the many hardships that are suffered by the poor people of the country. The audience easily related to the dramatised version of Rana, the labourer working from the crack of dawn till the sun sets, finally going home carrying his stick, a sack of bare essentials and a lantern. They also performed additional heart-warming compositions, encouraging the spirit of nationalism to grown within everyone present. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">The last day of the festival was marked with Jatra's launching of 'Janala Diye Khoka Dekhe', a children's book by Nazia Jabeen. This colourful compilation of children's poetry was officially launched by the famous puppeteer Musafa Monowar, where the art work was done by Nasreen Ahmad and the design by singer and Proprietor of Jatra, Anusheh Anadil. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/05/03/cover16.jpg" align="right" height="189" width="200" />“The books are hand made, starting from the wooden covers to the hand prints made inside,” says Nazia. “It became a little too expensive and not many customers might think of buying them. That is why we have thought of releasing these books in offset paper later on, keeping the original wooden covers intact.” </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">The book is about Khoka, a little boy who discovers the world in nature itself. “We are planning to do a series of books with Khoka,” says Nazia. “The next series will talk about Khoka's first experience on a train.” Aimed at children between 2-5 years of age, this book was the first book launch by Jatra. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">The launch was followed by puppet shows by Mustafa Monowar. His puppets brought to life the stories from the Liberation War. “This is just another way to let our children know about the war and the martyrs involved,” says Monowar. “I have been doing the same puppet shows for years now. But I always keep in mind to check the changes that are occurring around me. For instance, the theme and storyline that I used in my puppet shows today are the ones that I had done years ago. But I still bring about a difference even decades later because of the new ideas and techniques that I use along with the changing time.”</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">A jam session signified the end of the Jatra Festival, in which musicians such as Buno, Shahed, Ornob, Labeek, Punam and many more brought the stage to life with their music. There were enticing musical improvisations on Andrew Morris' saxophone and Taher's flute, not to mention the superb vocal works rendered by Shanjib and <em>dhol</em> played by Nazrul. It was an open platform and anyone could come with an instrument and perform. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">In addition to the festival, Jatra treated its customers to a 30% discount off of all their products, in celebration of “a new era” for the store, in which there will be more fun, more <em>adda</em> and more cultural events such as last week's festival.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16" align="center"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/05/03/cover18.jpg" height="256" width="550" /><br /> <span class="osdn-navtext">Singer and Jatra Proprietor Anusheh Anadil says she plans on giving Jatra a brand new look in the near future</span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">“When we first started the store we all had so much fun,” says Anusheh. “It was not just a job for anyone, it was all very spontaneous and relaxed. We wanted to have this festival celebrating Bangladeshi culture in order to bring that feeling back, so that people know that Jatra is not just another store where people buy things, but a place where everyone can have fun and hang out. We launched the store in a similar way, with an exhibition and a festival where different people performed. Throughout the years, however, that initial excitement has kind of died out and we wanted to bring it back.”</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16"><span class="style123">J</span>atra made its debut into Dhaka's retail market seven years ago, in late 2000, with its outfits, lamps, jewellery and its signature theme of painted colourful animals on handicrafts and home furniture. The space was originally an office space which Anusheh's father rented out. She had borrowed the space for an exhibition, in which she and her friends showcased many different products. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/05/03/cover20.jpg" align="right" height="205" width="300" />“People were here by the dozen for the exhibition and we started doing really well,” says Anusheh. “So we ended up taking over the space and keeping it for the store.”</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">The name Jatra, contrary to popular belief, is not derived from the word for rural drama. Rather it is taken from the word that means journey. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">“When one takes a journey through our country, there are so many bright colours all over the place,” says Anusheh. “For some reason, that particular aspect is missing in our handicrafts -- they are all very beautiful but they lack that brightness and that use of various colours. We wanted to bring that characteristic into the handicrafts of Bangladesh.”</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Located on Kemal Attaturk Avenue in Banani, Jatra is unique because it incorporates traditional and folk styles with western styles of dress. Moreover, the majority of clothes made in Jatra are made with a traditional cloth called <em>taant</em>, (a handloom fabric) which is indigenous to Bangladesh. This fabric's texture is ideal for Bangladeshi weather as it breathes and is comfortable to wear.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">“It's important to me that we use this fabric because it increases employment in Bangladesh,” says Anusheh. “The making of this fabric involves about ten people rather than cotton which does not need as many people. There are so many people who don't have jobs so if we can at least open up a market for this we will be able to provide them with employment in some way or another. It is also a really nice material, it's very comfortable.” </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16" align="center"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/05/03/cover11.jpg" height="251" width="550" /><br /> <span class="osdn-navtext">The Jatra Festival included a puppet show by Mustafa Monowar and <em>Pala Gaan</em> renditions by Maya Rani andher troupe</span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Aside from using traditional materials and fabrics, Jatra has also been successful in fusing Bangladeshi traditional wear and western outfits. It has provided Bangladesh's youth with an alternative style. Instead of taking fashion tips from India and the west, Bangali youngsters can now proudly sport a style that they can call their own. For example, the <em>fotua</em>, (a small sized <em>panjabi</em> to be worn with jeans or pants and occasionally a <em>dupatta</em>) has become a hot commodity all over Bangladesh with both men and women, thanks to trend-setting stores such as Jatra, Deshal and Prabartana. </p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="100"> <tbody><tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/05/03/cover19.jpg" height="204" width="300" />The fotua is one of Jatra's many innovative answers to fusion fashion</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">“<em>Fotuas</em> are kind of something that we always wore when we were younger,” says Anusheh. “I used to borrow my Nana's short panjabis and wear them with pants. It is important for us to have our own identity, and our own style, rather than copying Indian fashion. Before there were two extremes -- you would either have the men and women wearing completely western outfits, (in the case of girls, tight jeans and t-shirts), or totally eastern clothes i.e. saris and <em>shalwar kameezes</em>. What Jatra has done is successfully created a bridge for these two extremes, which is what best describes our generation.”</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Being a member of the popular band Bangla, which is known for “bringing folk music into the commercial helm for the youth,” Anusheh has also noticed the same trend in the Bangali youth with regards to their musical tastes. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">“There was either the type of person who listened to hard core heavy metal or western music, or there was the type who listened to Rabindra Sangeet or Indian classical music,” she says. “I think that our generation today lives in an environment where they are exposed to the best of both worlds. There is no reason we can't be both. That is what we are trying to do with both our music and also with the store. Jatra aims to be a Bangladeshi trend-setting store.” </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">However, like anything else that is trend-setting and fashionable, Jatra has to change with the times. Which is why in July, Jatra will be celebrating the launch of a new look. Anusheh, along with her six designers, Shukla, Lubna, Reza, Babu, Liton and Azad have been working </p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="100"> <tbody><tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/05/03/cover17.jpg" height="200" width="300" />A Jatra employee lights the<em> diya</em> in order to symbolise the beginning of the festival</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">hard to revamp Jatra. Shukla, Babu and Lubna collectively work on home products, clothes and jewellery, while Azad works on paper products and jewellery. Liton specialises in rickshaw painting and also is a designer and finally Reza whose recent project 'Tokano Rong' (Rag Picked Colours) -- which involved creating a collage of artwork made from waste and then applying this artwork onto various household items such as cushion covers, tissue box covers, bags and wall hangings -- was <img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/05/03/cover12.jpg" align="left" height="200" width="81" />exported, along with various other handicrafts to Belgium. </p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">“I guess I see Jatra as my baby and since I have grown in so many ways as a person, I feel that Jatra has to grow as well,” says Anusheh. “I was not able to give Jatra my full attention before because I have had two kids since we started the store.”</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">She has two children, a boy, Arash Alem Ahmad and girl, Raha Alaleh, with husband and fellow band member Faizan Rashid Ahmad (Buno). </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Although she was not as involved as she would have liked to be in the last few years, Anusheh is now hoping to promote a new and improved Jatra for her customers. She is planning on opening a second branch in Dhanmondi, which she hopes will provide a more interactive and relaxed atmosphere where people can come and enjoy themselves as well as buy the products. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">“That is how Jatra originally started out,” says Anusheh. “It was like this hang out spot where people would come and enjoy themselves. I guess it is important for me to revive that feeling.” </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Apart from reviving the feeling of camaraderie and excitement, Jatra has provided the youngsters of Bangladesh with an environment in which, not only can they learn more about the culture about their own country, but also take pride in fashion that is not borrowed from other cultures, but something that they can call their own.</p> <p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16"> <span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;"> Volume </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;"><strong>6</strong> Issue </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;"><b>1</b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;"><b>9</b></span> | <strong><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;">May 18</span></strong><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;"><strong>, 2007</strong></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;"> |</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="center"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 78%;"><b>Copyright (R) thedailystar.net 2007</b></span></p>Elita Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15708378163417621945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5036007291687052740.post-45720968386097553702007-06-15T23:10:00.000+06:002007-06-15T23:11:39.184+06:00Inside a Café<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8" align="left"><strong><strong></strong></strong> </p><table align="right" border="0" width="100"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/05/03/art01.jpg" height="168" width="100" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right"><strong>Khademul Insan</strong></div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">After years of experimenting with fashion, lights, images and colours, Khademul Insan has now come up with an exhibit where </p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="left" border="0" width="100"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/05/03/art02.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right"><strong>Simplicity of a complex mind-5</strong></div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">he intermingled the elements of colour with reflections of the inner self and tried to draw a line with reality. Titled, 'From N on the </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">streets, 2 words Café Mango', Insan's solo exhibition is currently taking place at Café Mango in Dhanmondi. When Café Mango initially opened up in Dhanmondi, Insan like many others were </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">struck by its unique sense of lighting, the imagery created by the </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">architecture and also the idea of combining it with an art gallery. “In café galleries, </p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="100"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/05/03/art03.jpg" height="146" width="150" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right"><strong>simplicity of a complex mind-3</strong></div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">people come to eat, hang out with friends, </p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="left" border="0" width="100"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/05/03/art04.jpg" height="227" width="150" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right"><strong>Simplicity of a complex mind-1</strong></div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">spend some quality time and also enjoy the art work around,” says Insan. Very popular in foreign countries, the concept of a café gallery came up with the advent of Café Mango. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">His work in this exhibition is based on two themes Simplicity of a Complex Mind and Odyssey of Self-discovery. In Simplicity of a Complex Mind, Insan captures what he sees around him in Café Mango. The people, the walls, the architecture, both the dimness and the bright shades of light, not to mention the fusing of the colour red and the unique structure </p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="100"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/05/03/art05.jpg" height="158" width="120" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right">Odyssey of self- discovery-Burning in hell</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">that one might find in the café. “The Odyssey of Self-discovery was something that I worked for quite </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">some time,” says Insan. Here he captured the outside world along with him as a part and parcel of the image that he would seize with his lenses, like a first person narrative of a mystery novel or a heart breaking love story. Through his work, Insan showcased the elements of intimacy, working hands, characters and even burning in hell.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">A set of 10 photographs, to an average admirer, Insan's work might either seem a little obtuse or filled with the complex geometric figures symbolising the subtle signs of life. However, going in depth, one will see the space created by Insan in each of his work, where Insan took full liberty to free his mind and lay down all the incomplete pieces of puzzles lingering within him for years and finally giving them a comprehensible shape. </p> <p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;">Volume <strong>6</strong> Issue <b>1</b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;"><b>9</b></span> | <strong><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;">May 18</span></strong><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;"><strong>, 2007</strong></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;"> |</span> </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8" align="center"><br /> <span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 78%;"><b>Copyright (R) thedailystar.net 2007</b></span></p>Elita Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15708378163417621945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5036007291687052740.post-22165399277394638392007-06-15T23:01:00.000+06:002007-06-15T23:04:36.521+06:00Cheating the Musicians<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style122"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/05/02/cover02.jpg" align="right" height="300" width="200" />Thirty-three year old Rumman Haider, a PhD student in Tennessee and his wife Tasneem are spending their summer in Dhaka with their families. It's great to be back home; they have been missing the food, the traditional celebrations, not to mention products that they get to buy at very cheap prices, including movies and music. "We are having a field day!" says Rumman. "Both of us love Bangladeshi music. We actually buy hundreds of mp3s all in one CD from a nearby music store, something that we can never do back in the States." Deprived of "good and modern Bangladeshi music back in the States," Rumman buys a bunch of collections from a music store for his friends back at Tennessee, namely 'Best of Habib's', 'Moushumi Bhoumik mp3 Collection', 'Band Music Collection' and many more. These collections come in proper packaging, complete with glamorous pictures of the singers on the CD sleeves, though in reality these albums have been made illegally and in complete violation of an existing copyright law. Such pirated copies are produced, supplied and sold in a very disciplined manner every day in the country. The business in music piracy is extremely lucrative but it deprives the legitimate producers and more importantly, the musicians, their rightful earnings.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16 style119">Industry sources and recent newspaper reports state that piracy has reached an unimaginable level in Bangladesh, where more than 95 percent of the CDs are pirated by music stores and individual salesmen, due to lack of proper legislation and enforcement of existing laws. "In fact, even law enforcers cannot make out the difference between an original and a fake," says Ershadul Huq Tinku, chief coordinator of Movement Against Piracy. Festivals and occasions like Eid, Valentine's Day, Pahela Baishakh are always targeted by various music companies in the country to release albums and launch new artistes. However, these albums end up getting uploaded on various websites for listeners to download and copied in various music outlets in the country. Very few customers can tell the difference between an original and a pirated copy. </p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="100"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/05/02/cover03.jpg" height="119" width="150" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right"><strong>Due to an increase in piracy, new and talented musicians are not given an opportunity to bring their music out into the market, says Naquib Khan, the founder member of Renaissance.</strong></div></td> </tr> </tbody></table><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">According to the dictionary meaning, piracy or pirating goods and products refers to hijacking on the high seas or taking a ship or plane away from the control of those who are legally entitled to it. It also refers to the act of plagiarising, i.e., taking someone's words or ideas as if they were your own. According to the universal context and also the music industry in Bangladesh, to make a copy of a CD, whether the whole or just part of it for commercial use is piracy, or what used to be called at one time, bootlegging. However, to make a copy of ones' own music collection for personal use, or to make a custom mix of one's favourite songs from CDs one owns, is fair use.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Today, a lot of youngsters prefer converting music to the mp3 format, a popular digital audio encoding format. It is designed in such a way that it reduces the amount of data required to represent the audio recording. Even then, it sounds like a faithful reproduction of the original uncompressed audio to most listeners. Sajjad Mahboob, a 29-year-old businessman, keeps himself updated with the new trends of music in Bangladesh. Though he buys and listens to the latest albums of the young and the happening such as Black, Artcell, Cryptic Fate, Aurthothin and many more, he admits that he wouldn't mind buying a pirated copy of a 'Best of Aurthohin mp3 Collection' if it ever does emerge in any of the outlets. "This would give me a chance to listen to their music all the time, without resorting to buying all the albums," he says. "It's because, either you have to listen to a CD in your car or on your stereo system. Nowadays most listeners between the age group of 14 - 25 either use their personal computers to listen to music or they resort to mp3 players. Due to this technology, they either buy the CD and get it ripped (copied), borrow from their friends or download it from the net. They don't' mind compressing the sound quality of an original CD."</p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="100"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/05/02/cover04.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right"><strong>Music listeners buy the CD and get it ripped. They don't' mind compressing the sound quality of an original CD.</strong></div></td> </tr> </tbody></table><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">The Copyright Act, 2000 was updated on July 18, 2000. As compared to the earlier version of the law, the updated version includes many more conditions and categories relevant to the current situation in Bangladesh. For instance, along with the subsections, which mention reformation and duplication of texts, literature, theatre, music, the many forms of arts in any form illegal, new subsections have been added where piracy of computer programmes and software have been considered prohibited, in any form whatsoever (refer to Rahman, Gazi Shamsur, Minor Acts). Though the act is quite clear and there for everyone to see, it is far from being implemented in the country. Many do not even know that such a law even exists in Bangladesh.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Well-known musician Maqsood ul Haque of dHAKA, has been researching the issue of piracy in Bangladesh for several years. According to him, piracy can be broadly categorised under Industrial and Copyright Infringement. Industrial piracy refers to small or large companies duplicating foreign CDs, audio tapes, mp3s, DVDs or re-recording them, by using their own brand labels and inlays, and marketing them without the original company's permission. Industrial Piracy can also be categorised as piracy using newer re-recording technologies than what the market is used to. For instance, pirates started using CDs as a format long before the established players could get into the market with the software. As of now mp3 piracy is in vogue and nothing that can be done to stop them. Any future advancement in recording technology stands to open newer vistas for pirates. Downloads on 3G cell phones would be the next line of piracy to hit the market.</p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="100"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/05/02/cover05.jpg" height="107" width="150" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right"><strong>Eminent singer Fahmida Nabi believes that piracy will subside once there are proper and legal papers between a music company and an artiste.</strong></div></td> </tr> </tbody></table><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">The Copyright Infringement Piracy refers to recording artistes, musicians, producers copying or lifting off work of foreign artistes and passing them on as their own 'creation'. This violation comes directly within the purview of the Intellectual Property Right (IPR) and is considered a more serious offence than Industrial Piracy in more advanced countries. Unfortunately in Bangladesh this brand of piracy is more rampant and nobody seems interested to talk about it.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Naquib Khan, founding member of an established music group Renaissance, says that there are too many issues to deal with in Bangladesh regarding piracy. "Musicians end up suffering in the end," he says. "When a product is launched into the market, an investment is done and a certain amount of sale is expected. Because of duplication, naturally the investment incurs a huge amount of loss. In the case of music, consequently, new and talented musicians are not given an opportunity to bring their music out into the market, since the producers cannot put their business into risk." Once the albums come out, he adds, piracy is sure to occur in many forms, be it CD or cassette piracy or in the form of downloading mp3s. "Then what is the use? Out of the 10,000 copies of an album that have been sold, only 10 percent of the revenue belongs to the producer. The rest of it is all piracy." </p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="100"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/05/02/cover06.jpg" height="128" width="150" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right"><strong>Ershadul Haque Tinku, the chief co-ordinator of Movement Against Piracy.</strong></div></td> </tr> </tbody></table><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Fahmida Nabi, a prominent singer, blames the music companies who bring out the CDs and promote musicians. "I am sorry to say but to date I have never witnessed a proper and legal contract taking place between a music company and an artiste," she says. "For years, certain producers have been judging the musicians and their music according to the general definition of popular music by the public. I have had producers refusing traditional music and compositions only because it did not sound 'popular' and similar to 'band music'. We should realise that there are many kinds of music where each has its own group of listeners and audience. We should not deprive a particular group for others, especially where traditional music and authenticity is concerned. There are also issues of royalty payment and monitoring of music sales, which also fall under the legal contract made between the company and the artiste. Once this contract is made properly and legally, piracy will subside by itself."</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Earlier this year, the newly formed Movement Against Piracy (MAP) has been going around in the country, attacking piracy first hand. "We know that it is not possible to fight it this way," admits Ershadul Huq Tinku. "However, we had to see to what extent piracy was being practiced in the country first hand. We went to Comilla, Chittagong and Feni during our first inspection. There we spoke to many vendors and small time salesmen about piracy, taught them how to differentiate between the original and the fake CDs and products, where we also included the law enforcers. There was also a point where we burnt pirated CD s in public, since every time we gave the pirated products to the police of the local stations, they would just be returned back to the traders."</p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="100"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/05/02/cover07.jpg" height="215" width="150" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right"><strong>Most listeners are unable to differentiate between the originals and<br /> the pirated copies.</strong></div></td> </tr> </tbody></table><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">The entertainment business in Bangladesh still has to go a long way to make itself accepted and recognised in society. The society at large is still ignorant of the legal transactions and exchanges involved. This may be one of the reasons as to why copying music or broadcasting it for commercial use is not considered a crime. It is only because that there is a demand for them that many outlets are driven to copy and sell duplicates or versions of the authentic products. Maqsood disagrees to such rationale, "The general masses actually know very little about the size of the market and how much it adds up in liquid revenue. An industry that is worth anywhere between 600 to 1000 crore taka is a huge industry. The present noise that we are hearing against piracy is because of the fact that the major players have by now realised how much they are going to lose out in the long run. It's up to them to clean up their act and bring them in general conformity with the rest of the world." </p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="left" border="0" width="100"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/05/02/cover08.jpg" height="197" width="150" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right"><strong>The current president of BAMBA, Hamin Ahmed from Miles says that according to the universal law, artistes all over the world register their material before they record, distribute and sell.</strong></div></td> </tr> </tbody></table><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">There are legal bodies in neighbouring India where the market for music and entertainment is more than tenfold of what it is in Bangladesh. These bodies monitor legal issues such as breach of contracts made between the company and the artiste, sale of albums, payment of royalty, illegal broadcasting and many more. "Organisations like The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) and Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) have been protecting the intellectual property of artistes and musicians world wide for many years," says Hamin Ahmed from Miles, also the current president of the Bangladesh Musical Bands Association (BAMBA). "In fact, apart from some countries in Asia including Bangladesh and some African countries, an artiste in any part of the world must register their material before they record, distribute and sell. In India they have such an organisation that is affiliated with both ASCAP and BMI where they protect the interests of their artistes or musicians in terms of securing their intellectual property right and royalties that may be due to them from any media, be it a record company, TV channels, radio stations and even live performances." Is it possible for a similar kind of an organisation to work in Bangladesh? "The good news is that something like this is already being constructed in Bangladesh and will start to operate soon," says Ahmed.</p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="100"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/05/02/cover09.jpg" height="209" width="150" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right"><strong>Nazmul Haque Bhuiyan of G-Series blames the government for not building a proper platform for musicians in the country.</strong></div></td> </tr> </tbody></table><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Nazmul Haque Bhuiyan, popularly known as Khalid, the proprietor of G-series says that the Government also has a huge role to play in checking the level of piracy in the country. "The Government does not bother about artistes and thus does not bother to build any platform for these artistes to stand and build their career," he says. "There are many factors that come into being when we speak of piracy. Some of them are too detailed and intricate that people tend to ignore them." For instance, according to Khalid, the government has built experimental theatre halls to promote theatre, which is a good sign. "But what about music and musicians?" he asks. "We don't have proper venues or structures in the country where artistes can do live performances. Musicians in this country are always victimised in many ways and their contribution to art is always overlooked by the government."</p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="left" border="0" width="100"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/05/02/cover10.jpg" height="219" width="150" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right"><strong>Md. Zahidul Haque, station manager of Radio Foorti.</strong></div></td> </tr> </tbody></table><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">With the development of music in Bangladesh, radio and telecom companies are not far behind in promoting it. The advent of Radio Today, Radio Foorti, Radio Amar and a few more upcoming stations, artistes are getting the chance to promote their music. In fact, Radio Foorti started the airing of unreleased tracks after coming to agreements with respective artistes, much to the delight of music lovers. However, music companies in the country claim that playing music without proper and legal permission, is a kind of piracy as well. Even in foreign countries, where the radio culture is part and parcel of the music and entertainment industry, radio stations are given the right to play a certain composition for 3-5 months or more for free, after which they give a royalty of a standard amount every time the song is played to the music companies and the artistes. Both Shakil Monzur, the executive director and chief operating officer (COO) of Radio Today and Md. Zahidul Haque, the station producer of Radio Foorti, however claim that they simply did not know how to work with the royalty system since it is more complicated than it seems. "Initially, we did not even know how or who to pay the royalty to," says Zahid. "The legal royalty system is not implemented properly in the country. Where senior musicians keep the rights of their own music, in the case of junior musicians, the music companies tend to hold on to them. So when we play a certain composition belonging to a certain musician, we simply cannot go and pay a royalty to the music company. There are many more involved here, for instance, the songwriter, the musicians, the composer and so on. We are now coming into terms with several music companies, drawing up contracts and observing the legal issues. However, in that case the contract or the legal binding between the company and artiste has to be strong, where everything else will be based on."</p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="100"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/05/02/cover11.jpg" height="112" width="150" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right"><strong>Shakil Monzur, COO of Radio Today.</strong></div></td> </tr> </tbody></table><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">"We did try to get in touch with some of the music companies initially," says Monzur. "One particular company asked us to pay them a huge amount of money, which is not the standard amount for a royalty. I could have produced albums with this money instead of running a radio station! We are now drawing up contracts with the different companies in the country, however, they along with the radio stations have to work on this together and come up with a standard rate instead of announcing them randomly." He further adds that Radio Today is very positive about the royalty issue and wants an amicable solution through the participation of all stakeholders under the purview of the laws of the land.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">The apparent conflict between radio stations and music companies, says Maqsood will eventually be sorted out. "I don't think the radios indulge in piracy as such," he says. "Indeed, quite the reverse, they are constantly playing music that creates demand, but what they ought to be very careful about, is playing unsolicited software. Also it is high time they thought about paying royalties to the artiste, which again has to be channelled to the artiste via the recoding label. Likewise I think it is time the TV channels cleaned up their act and thought about dishing out royalties on music and performance videos."</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/05/02/cover12.jpg" align="right" height="228" width="150" />Downloading ring tones for their cell phones is a growing fad among young people these days. However, the tunes, which are being downloaded by the service users, are also a form of piracy, which is being practiced on a large scale. "There is a mushroom growth of companies claiming to provide ring-tones and other services, but they are mostly illegal," says Hamin Ahmed. "The situation therefore is going out of control. To make it worse, nobody really knows who owns what, including the artistes and musicians themselves who are actually the intellectual property right owners of all their creations. Sadly they are the ones who are the sufferers despite being the actual owners of their material." </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">A few months ago Feisal Siddiqi, popularly known as Bogey, CEO of Ektaar Music, sent a letter to all telecom companies providing these services through their content provider partners, stating that they were using copyrighted music without the copyright owners' consent. In response the telecom companies placed the onus on the content providers (CPs) while, needless to say, the telecoms remain the primary earners and the biggest players behind mobile content. For each download of a ring-tone the telecoms charge up to Tk.17.5, a small portion of which is allocated to the CPs. Very few of the CPs have bothered to legally gain mobile distribution rights from the owners of copyrighted material. Those who have, apportion between 16-20% of their income to the copyright owner (usually the producer or label). In all of this the artiste, or the songwriter, the main creator of the content, has the least share, if any at all.</p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="left" border="0" width="100"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/05/02/cover13.jpg" height="102" width="150" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right"><strong>Maqsood ul Haque of dHAKA predicts downloads on 3G cell phones to be next in line of piracy to hit the market.</strong></div></td> </tr> </tbody></table><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">"The fact is that there is a copyright law in Bangladesh which everyone chooses to ignore and not implement," explains Bogey. "According to this law, royalty should be given to the owner of the authentic piece of music, which has been remade after a certain period of time. In fact, royalty should be given not only to the musician, but also to the songwriter. Since the law is not implemented in our country, no one is aware of the intricacies involved here." He further states that the telecoms cannot evade their responsibility to double-check the legal rights for distribution of operating CPs as they are generating revenue on their behalf. Since these telecom companies are multinational corporations, they are legally bound to adhere to the standard international codes but instead they are plundering assets (musical assets, in this case) that in reality belong to the Bangladeshi artiste and to the copyright owner.</p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="100"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/05/02/cover14.jpg" height="100" width="150" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right"><strong>Feisal Siddiqi Bogey, an eminent musician and the CEO of Ektaar Music says that it is high time the copyright law is implemented and followed in Bangladesh</strong></div></td> </tr> </tbody></table><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">The General Manager, Information Department of Grameenphone, Syed Yamin Bakht says that no such complaint reached him. "When Grameenphone provides contents under its own brand, we make sure that the content providers of these contents comply with the laws of the land,” he explains. “As for the other content providers who are providing contents under their own brand using our platform, we have strictly stated that they are liable for the contents. If any complaint against any such content provider is received, we immediately take action and remove such contents. These complaints should be made to these independent content providers as they are responsible for the content they are providing.” </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">However, according to sources, the letter of complaints did reach the telecom companies, thereby pushing them to ask for certain documents and papers from the content providers to make sure that the music that they were providing via the telecom companies to download are legal. For instance, Intekhab Mahmud, the chief commercial officer of Citycell says that the telecom is now drawing up contracts with the music companies and artistes respectively. "It is actually the duty of the content providers to draw up contracts and get the proper permission," says Mahmud. "However, we now demand that the content providers provide us with all the necessary papers and documents before approving of the tunes that they provide for the service users."</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">The music of any nation encompasses its very soul that evolves with the times yet retaining the uniqueness of each culture. The Bangladeshi music scene has been blessed with a treasure of music traditions that thrive through generations thanks to talented, dedicated artistes. Recognition, in the form of financial compensation, has been a struggle for most musicians. Unless artistes are aptly recognised for their invaluable contribution to our culture, fewer new talents will emerge and existing ones will find it hard to survive. Music piracy, which deprives artistes of royalties, should be seen as a disease that must be cured.</p> <p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;">Volume </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;"><strong>6</strong> Issue </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;"><b>18</b></span> | <strong><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;">May 11</span></strong><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;"><strong>, 2007</strong></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;"> |</span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="center"> <span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 78%;"><b>Copyright (R) thedailystar.net 2007</b></span></p>Elita Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15708378163417621945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5036007291687052740.post-1401744625393229012007-06-15T22:59:00.000+06:002007-06-15T23:10:27.699+06:00After the Disaster<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="style14"><span class="style22"><span class="style18"><span class="style27"><span class="style30"><span class="style38"><span class="style44"><span class="style46"><span class="style48"><span class="style53"><span class="style55"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="100"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/04/04/end01.jpg" height="164" width="250" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right">Relative who were financially dependent on the victims who died in the building collapse, are now leading a better life by starting small projects funded by Friendship.</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style65"><span class="style66">O</span>n April 11, 2005, 30-year-old Md. Ali Sheikh became the unfortunate victim of the Spectrum Garments building collapse where a number of night-shift workers were trapped and eventually died. Ali left behind his sister, 25-year-old Shantona Begum who had been paralysed since childhood and a stepmother in the district of Joypurhat. He was the only refuge for his sister and stepmother as Ali used to support them with at least Tk 1400-1500 every month. None of the stepsiblings were ready to take care of their stepsister Shantona and their mother, though they all lived nearby. Shantona and her stepmother were unable to work for a living. Because of acute poverty and physical conditions, they could not approach any NGOs for help.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style65">Almost all the relatives of the dead victims received an amount of Tk 1,00,000 as compensation (Tk 79,000 from BGMEA and Tk 21,000 from the Labour Court). However, Shantona and her stepmother were deprived from this compensation simply because they lived in a remote area and could not communicate to the authorities through the proper channels. On the other hand, the authorities procrastinated trying to decide if the compensation money could be given to the stepmother or the sister, since the conditions stated that only the victims' immediate relatives including parents or wives would receive the money.</p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="100"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/04/04/end02.jpg" height="174" width="250" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right">Many have now opened up shops and running businesses. </div></td> </tr> <tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/04/04/end03.jpg" height="168" width="250" /></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style65">That was when, through an assessment survey, Friendship's researchers came to know about Shantona Begum's plight. Friendship officials purchased a piece of land for Shantona with a house on it, which was fixed and repaired. Friendship also bought four goats for Shantona and her stepmother, so as to live financially independent lives.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style65">Friendship, a national NGO, had started out with the Savar Garments Rehabilitation project in April 2005, immediately after the collapse of the building. "Immediately after the incident, relief and rehabilitation activities were initiated by the owner, the BGMEA, trade unions and foreign buyers, working through different NGOs to support the victims of the garments' collapse," says Runa Khan, the executive director of Friendship. Famous for its expertise in relief and rehabilitation work, especially in the char areas in the northern part of the country, the rehabilitation activities that the organisation has been working on in Savar have been funded by Carrefour, the second biggest retail outlet in the world, ranking right after Walmart. "Carrefour had also funded Friendship, during our relief projects in 2004 for the flood victims," says Runa. "We could provide food and other basic necessities to 125 chars in four districts."</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style65">At the first step, Friendship, with the help of Carrefour, focused on the immediate needs of the victims, the relatives of the dead and the survivors. "We needed a list of the victims, which was absolutely impossible to find," says Runa. "In fact nobody knew the right number. Local union leaders would say that at least five hundred to a thousand died upon asking. However, we had to be completely sure before going on with the rehabilitation work." The building had collapsed when the night shift had begun at the factory. "Many of the workers had come out of the building," says Runa. "However, the sign-in and sign-out list was stuck under the debris, along with the night guards who died after the collapse."</p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="100"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/04/04/end04.jpg" height="173" width="250" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right">Shantona Begum is now confidently earning a living for herself and her stepmother in Joypurhat.</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style65">Eventually, with the help of the Trade Union, ASK, the owners and BGMEA, a quick survey and the listing of the victims were done. Munir Hossain, AD for Programme, Friendshp, says that categorising the victims into the dead, the injured (both major and minor), and traumatised was the most difficult job of all. "A total of 67 dead 55 injured victims were identified," he says. After positive identification, immediate food and other support expenses were given to 111 beneficiaries. "Emergency medical help had been given by many NGOs," says Runa. "So we decided to concentrate on the other needs of the victims, by providing doctors' check up fees, medicines, wheelchairs and crutches. We also helped the people to open bank accounts for the funds received from BGMEA." </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style65">However, after discussions with the victims and their families, it was found that they needed immediate support for income generation - and also to needed to get back their self-respect. A sewing machine or a van was a quick source of income, which was immediately distributed by the organisation, but that was not all. Interesting discoveries were made. "We decided to go around and actually see what the victims did with the money that was given to them for the immediate crisis that they had faced," says Runa. "Many of the victims who were not able to come to Dhaka were left out of care by many organisations. Some of the victims, who got the funds, used most it up for decorating graves and feeding relatives, but not for income generation. One such victim was approached by his sister's husband to deposit the compensation that the victim received in his (the brother-in-law's) account, since the victim never had a bank account. That's when we realised that just giving them what they wanted was not enough. Most of these people are not educated, are not aware of what goes on around them practically."</p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="100"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/04/04/end05.jpg" height="167" width="250" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right">The scheme designed and developed by Friendship has engaged relatives of victims and survivors into sustainable income generation activites.</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style65">Friendship, started off with the second phase of the rehabilitation project. Once again they identified and located the victims, only this time they conducted a thorough research in each case. "There were 118 families who had to be supported financially," says M Enamul Haque the programme manager of Friendship. "We sat down with each family and discussed what they wanted to do to for income generation. Some wanted to open small grocery stores, some wanted cows and goats, some wanted more resources for the poultry farms that they had. We discussed the pros and the cons of starting such businesses. For instance, someone who wanted to open a small shop, had to realise the market demand of what he wanted to sell in the locality, if his plans were actually relevant to his social surroundings and so on. It was like working on 118 different projects all together!" Each project required a bank account, which could be opened in any nearby bank in the area. "This was done so that we did not have to work with any more of the cash dealings over the counter," says Runa. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style65">Eventually, the scheme designed and developed by the organisation to ensure proper rehabilitation of the victims through engaging them into sustainable income generation activities worked for a positive change in the lives of these people. "They are now earning a more than what they used to at one time," says Enam, who has been working alongside the victims right from the beginning.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style65">"We are about to start off with the third phase of the project," says Runa Khan. This part of the project involves the education of the victims' children. "We will begin this part with the co-operation of Carrefour, Karstadt Quelle and Cotton Group (B&C) in a few months time."</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style65">"Eliminating poverty starts with feeding a hungry stomach," says Runa Khan, or righting the wrongs in a disrupted society begins with fulfilling the basic requirements of a human being. "Only then can one think of further development and a better life."</p><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style65"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;"> Volume </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;"><strong>6</strong> Issue</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;"><b> 1</b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;"><b>6</b></span> | <strong><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;">April 27</span></strong><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;"><strong>, 2007</strong></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;"> |</span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="center"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 78%;"><b>Copyright (R) thedailystar.net 2007</b></span></p>Elita Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15708378163417621945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5036007291687052740.post-1238190606071938362007-06-15T22:56:00.000+06:002007-06-15T22:58:35.555+06:00Bangali Consciousness Abroad<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16"><strong> Aasha Mehreen Amin, Hana Shams Ahmed and Elita Karim </strong></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16 style110"><em>The inherent resilience and adaptability of Bangalis no matter how unfamiliar and harsh the circumstances are, has taken them to the furthest corners of the world. The thirst for greater knowledge and the desire for a better life has led millions of Bangalis to leave their country of birth and go abroad, often making a foreign country their home. Yet no matter how assimilated the malleable Bangali is, no matter how attractive the adopted home and lifestyle is, there is always that hankering for the homeland. It is that irrepressible urge to establish one's ethnic identity in an alien environment that constantly prompts the expatriate Bangali to somehow stay connected through music, literature, traditions or merely by speaking in the mother tongue. </em></p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="center" border="0" width="100"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="2"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/04/02/cover8.jpg" height="297" width="500" /></td> </tr> <tr class="osdn-navtext" valign="top"> <td>No matter how attractive the adopted home is, there is always a yearning for the homeland</td> <td><div align="right">Photo: Drishtipat </div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Preserving 'Bangaliness' is perhaps most zealously done by older generation Bangalis who went abroad when they were adults, found suitable jobs, settled and ended up living out their whole lives in a foreign land. For these people their Bangaliness is given, says Azizul Jalil, a former World Bank official and freelance columnist who has lived in the US for most of his life. “The Bangla language, culture and its practice are a part of their identity, which they pass on to their children born in the US (for example),” says Jalil who has raised his children there. “Legends of the Battle of Palassy, Khudiram's hanging, Chittagong Armoury raid, various peasant movements, Subhas Bose and the Indian National Army, the language movement and the Bangladesh's war of independence are very much part of the older Bangladeshis' emotional and national ethos”, he says adding that “living in the US with the immediate family for many long years and even taking citizenship have not detached them from the natural and loving bonds with language and culture of their homeland.” </span> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Jalil has four grandchildren-all born of foreign mothers, who appreciate Bangla music, dance and Bangladeshi clothes. “One of them a five year old, was so enchanted by Nrityanchal's dance performance at Dr. Yunus's Nobel Prize award ceremony in Oslo that we have to play the accompanying Rabindra Sangeet “Rangiya die jao go amay” repeatedly and have bought CDs of other Tagore's dance dramas,” exclaims Jalil.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Reading Bangla literature, watching Bangladeshi channels via satellite and being in touch with current affairs in Bangladesh through Bangla newspapers, many of which have online editions, is also a way that many Bangalis maintain the cultural connection. Bangla weeklies are a dime a dozen these days in the US and other countries with large Bangla-speaking populations. Thikana, Bangla Patrika, Parichay, Kagoj, Akhono Somoy, Janmabhumi, Deshbangla, for instance, come out of New York, Priyo Bangla from Atlanta and Bangla Barta (weekly) and Poroshi (monthly) from California...</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16"><span class="style112">F</span>or second generation Bangali immigrants, however, cultural identity is not always so simple. “Both my parents immigrated to the United States before the Liberation War and in the 1970s and 1980s there weren't many large Bangladeshi communities in the U.S. My mother immersed my South Asian cultural education in Hindi movies and songs and classical Indian dancing (Kathak) and instruments (sitar),” says 31-year-old Roksana Badruddoja, a sociologist and an Assistant Professor of the Women's Studies Program at the California State University, Fresno, who was born and brought up in the U.S. “As Bangladeshi networks began building, my mother tried to immerse me in learning to read and write Bangla and sing Rabindra sangeet, but I was uninterested and my mother left it at that. Today, while I still do not read and write Bangla, I am able to fluently speak the language and I am recently beginning to explore contemporary Bangla music composed by musicians like Fuad and Habib,” says Roksana who completed her Ph.D in Sociology from Rutgers, the State University of NJ, worked as a domestic violence advocate and crisis Counselor for immigrant South Asian women and is currently working on a book titled "Brown Souls: The Stories of Second-Generation South Asian-American Women." </p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="center" border="0" width="100"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="2"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/04/02/cover9.jpg" height="312" width="500" /></td> </tr> <tr class="osdn-navtext" valign="top"> <td height="44">Bangali festivals like Pohela Baishakh gives expatriate Bangalis a chance to recreate their traditions</td> <td><div align="right">Photo: Drishtipat </div></td> </tr> </tbody></table><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16" align="left">Roksana says that it was very difficult to juggle between her 'South Asian / Bangladeshi' and 'American' identity as a child and adolescent. “First, before entering the house, I would take off my sneakers my outside shoes in the garage and slip into my indoor sandals before entering the home. Second, I would shed my western outfit, take a shower to cleanse myself off the day, and slip into a shalwar kameez. This purification act, which consisted of a simple procedure of shedding, cleansing, and changing, allowed me to cognitively switch from a world of 'American' friendship bracelets to one of 'South Asian' gold bangles. As an adult, I separate my 'South Asian' clothing from my 'American' clothing in my closet and my Hindi and Bangali-language music from my English and Spanish CDs. </p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">“My daughter's (three and a half years old) cultural upbringing is also invested in Bollywood and Bangladeshi or South Asian-style clothing. I simply do not carry enough knowledge to teach her about Bangladeshi culture in its true nature, and it does not seem natural to me to instil Bangladeshi culture in her, including the language. The notion of authenticity is a</p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="100"> <tbody><tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/04/02/cover10.jpg" height="203" width="200" />Roksana found it very difficult to juggle between her 'South Asian' and 'American' identities as an adolescent</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16"> critical question here and hence I leave it to my mother to teach Bangladeshi culture to her. What I am interested in instilling in my daughter, who is a third-generation American, is Bangaldeshi-American cultural values, which fosters a form of partial hybridity between 'Americanness' and 'South Asianness'.” </p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">When she was a child, Roksana's parents made it a point to take her and her sister to Bangladesh every year to spend time in the country. But since college she rarely comes to Bangladesh. Roksana says that while she is extremely attached to her Bangladeshi heritage and people from Bangladesh and she strongly identifies herself as a Bangladeshi-American, she feels little ties to the land. “It somehow feels foreign to me,” she says. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16" align="center">***</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Shushma Sharmin, a 26-year-old writer has lived in New Jersey for more than 10 years and says that it is her interest in the arts that has helped her hold on to her Bangali cultural identity. “I have always been taught to appreciate and respect Bangali music which has that certain something that cannot be found in western music,” says Shushma, “Another thing I hold on to is our history especially the Liberation Movement because it is something very close to home. Our parents still remember stories from 1971 and I guess for me, it is something to be proud of.” </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16" align="center"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/04/02/cover11.jpg" height="333" width="500" /><br /> <span class="osdn-navtext">Bangali families getting together on special occasions gives them a sense of being closer to home</span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Shushma who comes to Dhaka every year enjoys taking part in music and dance programmes wherever they take place. “I participate in musical events and concerts that happen every month and it's a way to bring Bangali culture to the United States,” says Shushma, “I now wish I had spent more effort learning Bangla more fluently in terms of reading and writing because I appreciate its value more now that I am older.” </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16"><span class="style112">F</span>or Zabin F Mansoor, a consulting engineer who has been living in the US for 16 years the bond with her Bangali identity could not be stronger. “The deep rooted tradition, richness of the language and literature, the traditional clothes, the delicious food, the warmth of the people draws me to my country,” she says. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">For Zabin and her husband it is extremely important that their two daughters understand their heritage and pass on the traditional values through the generations. “This is a melting pot of a variety of cultures and we do not want them to forget theirs,” says Zabin, “we do not allow our children to speak in English when we are home. They enjoy watching Bangladeshi programmes through the two very popular Bangladeshi TV channels that we subscribe to. It helps them with exposure to the way of life in Bangladesh. I cook traditional food in the house as often as I can so they can grow the taste for it. I read Bangla books to them and teach them little poems and songs.” </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Zabin also tries to teach her eight-year-old daughter about the history of the War of Liberation in simple terms for her to grasp. “I don't get to go to Bangladesh as often as I'd like to,” says Zabin, “but we try not to make a huge gap between visits so it is not a culture shock for them when they go to Bangladesh.” </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16" align="center"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/04/02/cover12.jpg" height="388" width="400" /><br /> <span class="osdn-navtext">Zabin encourages her daughter to speak in Bangla at home</span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Zabin says that she and her husband constantly feel an urge to maintain their Bangali identity. “We try to celebrate festivities like Pahela Baishakh, Bijoy Dibosh, Ekushey February etc with whatever means we have.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">“Once the students association here arranged a Shadhinota Dibosh Udjapon in the campus auditorium where we began the celebration by viewing some rare footage of the liberation war, then enjoyed some authentic Bangladeshi food that every family contributed to, and later enjoyed an informal cultural programme by some of the local talents,” says Zabin, “and on a couple of occasions we have set out Bangladesh stalls in the international festivals and showcased our unique handicrafts.” </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">“We might have crossed the boundary of Bangladesh, and wear different clothes and speak in a foreign language at work but we do not forget that we hail from Shonar Bangladesh. We are like the cheerleaders of Bangladesh in the western hemisphere,” she adds. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16"><span class="style112">I</span>t was on February 21, 2003 when a few Bangladeshi friends decided to bring out <em>Porobash</em>,</p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="100"> <tbody><tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/04/02/cover13.jpg" height="256" width="200" />Kazi Ensanul Hoque, the Editor of Porobash, organises cultural activities for Bangalis living in Japan</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16"> a magazine for the expatriate Bangladeshis living in Japan. Kazi Ensanul Hoque, the current editor of Porobash along with his friends Rahman Moni, Badrul Borhan, Baker Mahmud, Motaleb Shah and Shajal Barua Pramukh, have been living in Tokyo, Japan for more than two decades. The Japanese culture is now a part of their daily lives, for instance the language that they speak, eating habits and so on. However, the bi-monthly magazine, which is published in both Bangla and Japanese, caters to the Bangladeshi expatriates with write ups regarding Bangladeshi politics, music, arts, nutrition, cooking, sports and many more. “The magazine even has a section where the Japanese people can learn Bangla,” says Ensan. “The magazine is subscribed not only by the expatriate Bangladeshis and the Japanese, but also by other nationalities living in Japan.” </p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">This Japan-based Bangla magazine started its journey initially as a community publication. Due to the huge support from readers and gaining a lot of popularity, <em>Porobash</em> eventually grew bigger and began to reach people beyond their small communities in Japan and elsewhere. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">“We have a very hectic life here in Japan,” says Ensan, who is also the local representative of Shaptaik 2000 in Japan and is enlisted with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Japan as a foreign correspondent. “It is probably this effort to express our thoughts and feelings in our very own language, our culture and customs that relieves us from the agony and the nostalgia of those left behind thousands of miles away.” A very popular personality amongst the NRBs in Tokyo, Ensan is also actively involved in organising cultural activities for the expatriates living there and elsewhere in Japan. Like every year, this year he, along with others in the community, will organise the Tokyo Baishakhi Mela. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">“Both the Bangladeshis living in Bangladesh and Japan and the Japanese writers and artistes are involved in the making of the magazine, where a blend of the two cultures develops and is highly encouraged” says Ensan. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16"><span class="style112">R</span>uby Rahman, a mother of three, has been living in Toronto for the last 14 years. She left Bangladesh in the late 70s, at a very young age right after getting married to an engineer. Since then, she, along with her husband has been moving from one continent to another owing to her husband's job postings. By the time she finally settled down in Toronto after a decade-long stay in the Middle East, two, out of her three daughters were grown up and university students. Her daughters had never actually lived in Bangladesh, if one doesn't count the summer vacations that they spent in the country every two years, and had grown up in a multi-cultural environment with Paksitanis, Indians, Arabs, Chinese, Americans and Canadians. In spite of this, all three of her daughters speak, read and write fluent Bangla, a fact, which is quite rare especially amongst the first generation immigrant Non Resident Bangladeshis. “My daughters went to international schools all their lives,” says Ruby. <img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/04/02/cover14.jpg" align="right" height="223" width="250" />“However, I made an effort in teaching them Bangla during their yearly vacations ever since they were very young.” In fact, when Ruby was residing in Iran in the early eighties, friends would send their children to her every other weekend for Bangla lessons. “I would teach my 4-year-old daughter Bangla during weekends,” she says. “A friend of mine wondered if I could manage two more aged 4 and 5, who also happened to be my daughter's play mates. I was just too happy to comply. Eventually, a lot of children started to come to take Bangla lessons.” </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Teaching Bangla at home eventually grew into an establishment. For the last 10 years, Ruby has been holding weekly Bangla classes for Canadian born Bangladeshi children of all ages. She even has an assistant to help her out with the classes. “It's natural for children to avoid learning new ideas and languages,” says Ruby. “Especially with our children here to whom learning Bangla sometimes becomes a burden. All I tell them is to take Bangla as just another foreign language that they learn at school, for instance French or Spanish.” </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16"><span class="style112">I</span>t was a very difficult decision for 50-year-old Fahmida Rahman, a Rabindra Sangeet exponent, to leave her country and migrate to an unknown land. “Often one is driven by ambition, a search for new opportunities or in some cases by a yearning to expand and grow mentally and intellectually,” says Fahmida. When Fahmida immigrated to the United States with her children she was motivated by ambition and adventure that the land of opportunities offered. “We were happy that we were giving our children a great opportunity to see the world and explore new horizons. However, with time we realised that we were also taking away something precious from them their sense of identity,” says Fahmida. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Fahmida believes that when adults move to a new country they have an advantage of never living in ambiguity in their childhood and can start a new life with their ethnic/national identities. “But children who are uprooted and brought to a new culture have a harder time they are forced to live a dual life. They are torn between two worlds one at home with their parents who still have their strong cultural roots and the other in the outside world which in many ways is different. They have to cope with two languages, accents, cultures and sometimes different values,” she adds. </p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="center" border="0" width="100"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="2"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/04/02/cover15.jpg" height="338" width="400" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="osdn-navtext">Through Bangla music and the art forms, the Bangalis living abroad find it easier to stay connected</td> <td class="osdn-navtext" valign="top"><div align="right">Photo: Drishtipat </div></td> </tr> </tbody></table><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16" align="left">“We parents think it's important to make our children aware of their roots because, despite all the changes that we are exposed to, we still believe that our strongest bond is with our own culture and language. Some of us who have lived in the US for 20 years still dream in Bangla or we are overcome with nostalgia when we hear a Tagore song. We long for the monsoons and the autumn sky of Bengal. The sight of the cherry blossom in the tidal basin of Washington DC reminds us of the Krishnachura in Ramna, Dhaka. With time we realise that a Harvard degree has given us intellectual growth, but the strains of Bangali music gives us a sense of belonging. Despite all our efforts to call football soccer and enjoy the Jay Leno Show in NBC we are happiest when we discuss cricket or watch a sentimental Bangla natok. We then go through self-questioning how can we deprive our children of their Bangali identity? An identity which has given us so much and is such an important part of who we are even in this multiethnic melting pot of a country? This is what inspires mothers like me to try to expose our children to Bangali culture even in the remote US. After all it is a wonderful thing that they can learn to be multifaceted. They can enjoy the culture and language of the US and also that of their roots. Their lives can be so much richer because they can appreciate and accept a new culture as their own and yet have the knowledge and understanding of another culture, which is part of their parents and grandparents. By teaching our children Bangali music and culture we raise their consciousness as Bangalis. In the greater scope of things this helps them develop their other consciousness that they are a tiny part of this all-encompassing world. It helps build tolerance and acceptance for people who are different and makes them more complete human beings.”</p> <p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16"> <span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;">Volume </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;"><strong>6</strong> Issue </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;"><b>1</b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;"><b>4</b></span> | <strong><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;">April 13</span></strong><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;"><strong></strong></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;"><strong>, 2007</strong></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;"> |</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="center"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 78%;"><b>Copyright (R) thedailystar.net 2007</b></span></p>Elita Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15708378163417621945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5036007291687052740.post-22870009473106176132007-03-31T16:54:00.000+06:002007-03-31T17:04:18.375+06:00Learning with Muppets<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8" align="left"><span class="style49"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/03/05/enter01.jpg" align="right" height="240" width="200" />S</span>hreya is like any other 5-year-old - inquisitive, stubborn, experimenting, loves to rush out to the playground at class recess and hates to wake up for school early in the morning. However, for the last one year, Friday mornings have always been a special treat for Shreya. Now that she knows her numbers quite well, she gets someone to help her with the alarm clock, so as to wake up the next morning and catch Sisimpur on BTV at 9 am every Friday. “It's a wonder how hell breaks loose every time we try to wake Shreya up for school though,” says her mother Rahela Anjum, an executive working at a private company in Banani. Evidently, watching Sisimpur happens to be Shreya's top most priority at the moment. “My favourite character is Tuktuki,” she says, referring to one of the muppet characters featured in the show. “But I also like Halum since he can talk like a human and doesn't seem to scare anybody,” she adds talking about the tiger, yet another muppet character on Sisimpur. </p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">Sisimpur has been designed and planned in such a way that it meets the learning needs of children between the ages of 3-6 years in Bangladesh, irrespective of social classes and regions across the country. The Bangladeshi adaptation of Sesame Street, Sisimpur under an organisation called Nayantara has been running for the last one and half years on Bangladesh Television (BTV), every Friday at 09:05 am, with repeats at 02:05 pm every Saturday, Monday and Wednesday. “It is based on a syllabus or a curriculum,” says Sara Zaker, eminent actress and the Project Head Nayantar, at a recent seminar held to create a special Media Forum for the show. “The show does not emphasise only on math, science, alphabet and letters but also plays a big role in developing the young minds regarding social and cultural values.” With a curriculum defined by Bangladeshi educators, the series showcases values such as self-respect, empathy and cooperation. Sisimpur moves a step forward and work on the very sensitive issues, such as improving educational opportunities for young girls; promoting good nutrition, hygiene and safety; and encouraging appreciation of the shared cultural heritage of diverse segments of Bangladeshi society. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">Sesame Street developed in 1968 in the USA, working on the concept of children's learning through a television show. This idea evolved over the years and today it is a major platform for building a better future in many countries. Sesame Street, a production of the Children's Television Workshop in the United States, is an integral part of a child's education. From a very early age, children learn to recognise letters of the alphabet, count, add, subtract and also learn about culture of other countries. Sesame Street plays a significant role in developing the day-to-day skills of children, be it crossing the road, wearing the seat belt in a car, tying shoelaces and getting in and out of a school bus. Today, Sesame Street, which is termed 'the longest street in the world', has been adapted in many countries around the world, such as in China, Egypt, Kuwait, South Africa, Israel, Palestine and now in Bangladesh amongst many. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">Ratan Pal, the executive producer of Sisimpur says that this might seem like a mere television show to the adults or a normal television viewer, but to a child Sisimpur is a way of life. “Our surveys and researches show that children who watch Sisimpur actually relate to the characters on the show,” he says. “The way the characters behave, think, even the way they speak seem to influence the children in a significant way.” </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">At the seminar, a few segments from Sisimpur were shown to members of the media to give a clearer idea of what the children have been learning in the past year and a half. In one of the segments, Ikri Mikri, a muppet character, wanted to buy permanent colour pencils from the nearby shop to colour herself purple so as to be like her best friend Tuktuki, yet another muppet character. The shopkeeper, however, explained to Ikri, that you don't have to change your colour to befriend someone. One should always be oneself and in turn respect the other's differences as well. To a child, this would seem a very natural and an obvious explanation. It's probably in the 'adult-world' where we have terms and concepts like racial discrimination and social class differences.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/03/05/enter02.jpg" align="right" height="260" width="200" />Dr. Mahtab Khanam an eminent psychologist and consultant to the Sisimpur project has conducted various surveys and workshops with children and parents alike in several remote areas of Bangladesh. “Our community outreach programme works on raising the awareness amongst families regarding early life nurturing, health, hygiene and much more,” she says. “This is closely related to how we plan our concepts and scripts for every segment in Sisimpur.”</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">According to writer, professor, Dr. Zafar Iqbal who is the consultant to the scriptwriters in Sisimpur, every script has to go through certain stages of official approval and certification from the authorities in Sisimpur Bangladesh and also in New York before it is finalised. Cultural contexts have to be kept in mind while making the scripts as well.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">The famous actor-turned politician Asaduzzaman Noor says that Sisimpur is “educational and much more.” It is all about love, patriotism, the arts, values and the world we live in.”</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">The muppet characters that have captured the hearts of millions of children in the country are Tuktuki, Haleem, Ikri Mikri and Shiku. Tuktuki is a five-year-old extroverted girl who loves to sing and dance. She is a dreamer and does a hundred different things at a time so as to be helpful. Halum is a loving tiger and the children absolutely adore him. In fact, some of the kids even want to be Halum when they grow up. In many of the episodes, Halum has been shown enjoying a family of clever family members. However, his naiveté and his interesting collections of sorts, for instance stamps have viewers laughing out loud. fish and vegetables, which actually had many a child turn towards fish and vegetables as well. Ikri Mikri is a cute and cuddly three-year-old who is very affectionate and is loved by all. She has an imagination where she makes anything happen. Shiku is the intellectual jackal, who comes from a family of clever family members. However, his naiveté and his interesting collections of sorts, for instance stamps have viewers laughing out loud.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">Children in this country need a reason and also a chance to dream. Sisimpur, which started out in 2005, is creating a positive image of Bangladesh for kids, and giving them lessons in alphabets and numbers. But it is also creating cultural awareness amongst young minds, something that no textbook can do. </p> <p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;">Volume </span><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><strong>6</strong> Issue </span><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><b>12</b></span>| <strong><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;">March 30</span></strong><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><strong>, 2007</strong></span><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"> |</span> </p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;"><b>Copyright (R) thedailystar.net 2007</b></span></p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </span>Elita Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15708378163417621945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5036007291687052740.post-67376046342086333732007-03-29T01:30:00.000+06:002007-03-29T01:32:06.362+06:00Conquering Obstacles<strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></strong> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="100"> <tbody><tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/03/04/sf05.jpg" height="400" width="96" />From top: Mohd. Parvez; Mir Syed Ali; one of the many visually impaired children at BMIS; Mitu and Asiya writing and reading Braille.</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">Fourteen-year-old Asiya is studying in Grade nine at the Baptist Mission Integrated School (BMIS). Just like all other teenagers, Asiya likes to listen to music and chat with her friends after school hours. Since she lives in a boarding school, her teachers do get a little picky when she does not do her homework. However, she still finds her disciplined life and the open fields at her school better than when she goes back home to Faridpur during vacations. The only difference between Asiya and other girls her age is that she has been visually impaired since birth and does not view the world the others do. Her parents, now dead, had been first cousins, who gave birth to five daughters, three being born with visual impairments. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">Located in Mirpur, the Baptist Mission Integrated School, the only school for visually challenged girls in the country, is a boarding school and runs on foreign and national aid. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">“This school will be an integrated school from Standard six starting from the next academic year,” says Manju Samaddar, the principal of this school. “Though globally it is encouraged to have an integrated education system right from the beginning, it is not possible to do so in Bangladesh.” </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">Owing to social ignorance, lack of awareness on the part of parents and also the required technical support for visually impaired children, these children fall behind in their education, sometimes not getting any at all. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">Amongst many of the international organisations that help support institutions like BMIS, Handicap International works in the field of disability and communities involving physically, visually and mentally challenged people. Starting out in 1997 in Bangladesh, Handicap International started working in partnership with the Centre for Disability in Development (CDD). In Bangladesh, Handicap International works towards prevention and early detection of the from disabilities community to the national level, supporting challenged people with items like walking sticks and hearing aids, promoting social awareness amongst the general people and disaster management. Handicap International works in many remote areas in Bangladesh, namely, the char areas of Sirajganj, Gaibandha and many more. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">In Dhaka, Handicap's major works lie in the remote areas of Mirpur and Lalbagh. For the past few months, the organisation has been holding workshops and training sessions for the many communities in these areas. “There were several programmes in the areas which were being piloted in our area,” says Ansaruzzaman, a Mirpur businessman, who leads the many sessions and workshops that are organised in the area by Handicap. “The Ward Commissioner of No.13 in our area was looking for someone educated, experienced and also someone who could interact with the locals. That's when he requested me to supervise the programmes.” According to Ansaruzzaman, a committee has been formed in the area, which made a list of all the physically, visually and mentally challenged locals in the area. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">“Trainers from Handicap held programmes and workshops where, not only the challenged residents but also the other locals, were taught how to take rapid action during natural disasters, for instance earthquakes and fires.” Ansaruzzaman further adds that according to international surveys, Tehran and Dhaka have been found to be the two cities in the world, which are very prone to earthquakes. “None of us will know what to do during a sudden shake,” he says, “let alone people with disabilities.”</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">Along with the workshops and awareness sessions conducted by Handicap, various international experts have gone to these areas and provided the challenged people with wheelchairs, white walking sticks, hearing aids and much more necessary equipment. “The first thing do during an earthquake is not to panic,” says Mitu of Class 8, yet another visually impaired student of BMIS. “We should try to get out of the building and search for an open space. If necessary, we should take shelter under the bed or a writing desk. We have also been taught about mobility and how to respond when we sense danger around us.” Mitu, like many of her friends at the school, walks with the special folding white walking sticks provided by Handicap International.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8" align="center"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/03/04/sf03.jpg" height="329" width="500" /><br /> <span class="osdn-navtext">A group of visually impaired students taking some time out from their studies at BMIS</span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">In Lalbagh, physically challenged people seem to outnumber challenged people in other areas. Haji Altaf Hossain, the Ward Commissioner of No. 61, says that these challenged people get an amount of Tk 200 as allowance from the government every month. “Lately however, there have been complaints of these people being turned away from the banks,” he says. “Handicap has provided the physically challenged people in our area with walking sticks, wheelchairs and other items to help them move around. Even then, it gets very difficult for the challenged locals to move around, since the buildings are not accessible to them. Banks, for instance, do not have ramps for the wheelchairs to move. </p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="left" border="0" width="100"> <tbody><tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/03/04/sf04.jpg" height="203" width="200" /> Manju Samaddar</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">The physically challenged people make a great effort to go all the way to the banks, just to get turned down and asked to come later on. To make things worse, they are not given a fixed date either. We have been receiving similar complaints regarding the Sonali Bank in Lalbagh, where these physically challenged people have been turned away several times. They have a right to a monthly allowance, but the authorities seem to consider this an extra burden.”</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">For Mir Syed Ali, life could not have been crueler. A road accident 5 years ago had left him completely disabled and mentally unstable for a few months. “Initially, he was left unattended at the hospital for at least 24 hours and was also given the wrong medication,” says his brother. “It is only when we took him to India for treatment that the doctors told us that the operation that was done in Bangladesh had been absolutely unnecessary and had in fact worsened his condition. They told us that there was a high chance of him not surviving.” However, with continuous efforts from his brother, mother and other family members for 5 long years, Ali can now sit up, move his arms and</p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="100"> <tbody><tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/03/04/sf02.jpg" height="151" width="200" />Ansaruzzaman</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8"> communicate with others. “There was a time when I used to travel occasionally to Delhi, Agra and Jaipur,” says Ali who was a small time businessman. “Now I can't leave this bed without help.”</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">In spite of being almost bedridden, Ali moves around a little and attends the workshops and seminars held by Handicap International in his area. With the help of a wheelchair provided by the organisation, Ali attends the seminars with his brother. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">According to Md. Humayun Kabir, the commissioner of ward no. 59 in Lalbagh, because of Handicap's continuous efforts, the Lalbagh locals are more socially aware and conscious regarding the issue of disability. “There are many physically challenged people here who were always referred to as the <em>kana</em> (blind) or the <em>lengra</em> (lame),” he says. “But that has changed now. Though it's still a very slow process, the locals here are more conscious and sensitive to their neighbours who are physically challenged. In many cases, the locals also go out of their way to help the challenged people in the community.”</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">Mohd. Parvez is in his mid-forties and is visually impaired. He had suffered a bad case of Typhoid when he was only six months old, which had snatched his eyesight away. Ever since then, he has been depending on his family members to move around. At the moment, he lives with his sister and aunt. Parvez is a very cheerful person and is well liked in his locality. In one of the close-knit communities of Lalbagh, his neighbours</p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="100"> <tbody><tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/03/04/sf01.jpg" height="177" width="200" />Mohd. Ismail Hossain Siraji</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">sometimes turn to him for advice or even to chat and spend quality time. Unfortunately, because of his visual impairment, he was never sent to school as a child and did not receive any kind of education later on. “I make it a point to attend the workshops and seminars that Handicap organises here in Lalbagh,” he says. “Not only me, but my neighbours and friends in the locality have learnt a lot from these sessions. The most important part of the seminar is probably the part about disaster management.”</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">Mohd. Ismail Hossain Siraji is the principal of the Intermediate Level Madrasa in Lalbagh and is actively involved in the development of the physically challenged people in the locality. “The ones who are most affected during an earthquake are old people and children,” he says. “In these workshops, many of us have been trained to build makeshift shelters and look out for the affected people. Similarly, physically challenged people are also in danger of losing their way or simply suffering in silence due to their inability to move out of the way of danger as fast as possible. The workshops and training programmes organised by Handicap has taught us to help ourselves and others around us. I am also planning to have several of these orientation programmes and workshops in my school in the future.”</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8">Disability is not a curse, but merely a difficulty which physically challenged people try to overcome. Handicap International Bangladesh creates the opportunities for these people to win over these obstacles and bring together communities all over Bangladesh.</p><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;">Volume </span><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><strong>6</strong> Issue </span><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><b>1</b></span><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><b>1</b></span> | <strong><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;">March 23</span></strong><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><strong>, 2007</strong></span><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"> |</span> </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style8" align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;"><b>Copyright (R) thedailystar.net 2007</b></span></p>Elita Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15708378163417621945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5036007291687052740.post-7685517635448594752007-03-20T18:31:00.000+06:002007-03-20T18:35:39.937+06:00A Summer Homecoming<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style27"></span><strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Aasha Mehreen Amin, Elita Karim </strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">and</span><strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> Hana Shams Ahmed<br /> </strong> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16 unnamed2 style23" align="left">It's not just the rising mercury that is warming up Dhaka this summer. Like all other summers it is a time of great excitement for many families whose loved ones living thousands of miles away have arrived. They bring with them much-awaited gifts in suitcases that smell of foreign lands and attitudes, ideas and mannerisms that amuse their local relatives who go to great lengths to pamper and please them and make them feel at home. For many of these visitors it is with a sigh of relief and sheer joy that comes from being with people who love you, eating all those exquisite foods that have been sorely missed and exulting in the luxury of being attended hand and foot. For others this summer homecoming brings opportunities to work in a country where their roots lie and experiences that will last a lifetime.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16"><span class="style31"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2006/08/01/cover01.jpg" align="right" height="220" width="300" />N</span>adia Kabir Barb's highpoint every year is her visit to her motherland with her husband and children. “Coming to Dhaka is like coming home for me, despite having lived abroad for most of my life, I am very Bangladeshi at heart, people complain about the dust, heat, crowd and noise, but to me it is part and parcel of Dhaka life. It doesn't bother me,” says Nadia, “I have my mother here, my relatives and so many of my friends.” She also admits that with her hectic life as a mother of three one of the best things about coming to Dhaka is being indulged by her family. “I do get pampered a lot here. It's nice not to have to worry about getting the kids to school on time, what to cook for dinner or deal with all the daily chores. I can just leave those things behind and relax.”</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Nadia, who lives in Central London with her British husband and children, also adds that she is more encouraged to come here because her children love it. “People think I've brainwashed them when they go around telling people things like 'everything in Bangladesh is more colourful, it's much greener here and even the air is fresher in this country'!” she exclaims laughingly. But besides that, she says, they enjoy being here and spending time with their nanu.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Her three children Ayesha, Mikhail and Iman agree full-heartedly. 10-year-old Mikhail loves to get away from the cold and drab weather of London to sunny Dhaka. 13-year-old Ayesha further adds, “We get to spend time with our cousins, go out to visit relatives and eat a lot of types of food that we don't get in London like Dhaka paneer!” What seven-year-old Iman finds amazing about Bangladesh is the “atmosphere”.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Like most Bangladeshi expatriates Nadia spends a lot of time socialising with friends and family. “But it is also nice to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city to my ancestral home where my father is buried. The children can take boat rides or go fishing.”</p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="200"> <tbody><tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2006/08/01/cover02.jpg" height="217" width="300" />Nadia, with her children who love everything about Bangladesh</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">If there's one thing that worries Nadia, it is her kids' falling ill. “The health care system here is obviously not what it could be. If one of them falls ill I want to be able to make sure that they get the right treatment. Although we have highly qualified doctors, we don't seem to have the facilities and the aftercare in hospitals is not necessarily adequate.”</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">“And of course the traffic here is horrendous,” she adds, “and it just gets worse.”</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Sitting at her mother's spacious apartment she exclaims that the one thing that she misses most about life in Dhaka is the support system that exists with family and friends. “If I had this support system in London I could consider pursuing a full time career”, says the 30-something freelance columnist.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Syeda Saira Hussain, a homemaker with a penchant for interior design and fashion trends, has been living in California USA for the last twenty-two years but her heart has never left the city where she spent her childhood and adolescence - Dhaka. While it is her family ties that bring her back every year or so, it is also her attachment to her motherland that nurtures a long standing dream to someday come back and settle here. "There are so many things that attract me to Bangladesh besides my family; it is the smell, the greenery, even the chaos that fascinate me and which I am so familiar with" says Saira. Unlike many Bangladeshi expatriates who find the unpredictability, political instability and lack of basic conveniences (so easily available in the countries they live in) so exasperating, Saira has a surprisingly positive take on Bangladesh. She looks forward to the changes in Bangladesh every time she visits: "I was very impressed with the spic and span airport when I arrived, the shopping malls and the numerous shows on the various Bangla channels which showcase the talents of our people. It is very encouraging."</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">" Living in a developed country has its conveniences" says Saira who is married to a hardware engineer, "but it also means that life is very routine, mechanical and often isolating. We wake up at 6 am and go to bed at 12 am and then wake up the next morning to do the same things all over again. Sometimes I have sense of emptiness and homesickness - even after living there for so many years". </p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="left" border="0" width="200"> <tbody><tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2006/08/01/cover03.jpg" height="209" width="300" />Saira with her two sons-diehard Bangladeshi fans</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Saira admits that back home in Bangladesh with all the pampering and adoration from family and friends makes her miss her country of birth all the more. "I feel like a queen," confesses the vivacious mother of two sons who are diehard fans of Bangladesh.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">"It's like a retreat and solace from the drudgery and stress of my life in the States." Which is why she spends so much time just enjoying being in her parents home where she grew up in. "I love chatting with my mother and siblings till the wee hours of the morning, spending time with my many nephews and nieces ranging from age 1 and half months to eleven years."</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Like most other visitors she laments over the impossible traffic situation, the lack of basic health care - major deterrents to potential resettlement. But it is also the competitiveness among members of the privileged that she finds disconcerting. And of course the obvious poverty that one cannot escape no matter how cushioned one's life is here.</p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="179"> <tbody><tr> <td class="osdn-navtext" width="173"><div align="right"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2006/08/01/cover04.jpg" height="250" width="173" />Saira- looks forward to the positive changes every time she visits home</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">"The violent politics is of course very disturbing but people have learnt to live with it. I'm sure I would too if I lived here". That may not be too soon as there is little scope for Saira's husband's expertise to be utilised in this country. Meanwhile Saira is sure to make frequent visits to her beloved Bangladesh for her family, lalshakh, paani phuchka and of course shopping.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16"><span class="style31">F</span>or Pamela Jabbar, a young aspiring writer whose parents are Bangladeshi but who was born and brought up in England, the experience of visiting Bangladesh is quite different from the usual expatriate Bangladeshi. Her first visit to Bangladesh was when she was a child and this is her third stay. This time it is to research for her first novel. "My main characters are Bangladeshi and they come to Bangladesh", 'so I thought I should come to the country to get a sense and flavour of Bangladesh - the things that seep into you when you go to a country..." This together with a curiosity about a homeland she visited as long as 22 years ago, lured Pamela here with a plan to stay as long as the place could hold her interest. She has already been here for three months and is looking for a job that will suit her credentials. As a writer Pamela finds Bangladesh quite fascinating. " There are so many dramas being played out every second of the day. There's always something new - the way it rains, the political rallies, the street fights and hartals, the day to day encounters of masters and servants, the social differences being played out...the way the temperature fluctuates and how it affects you. So from a sensory point of view, Bangladesh is fantastic"</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">"It is also the images and characters you see around you - the dichotomy of huge buildings erected next to shanty-like shops that you know wont be there the next time you visit - how do they coexist..."</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Pamela is also intrigued by the seeming coexistence of modernity and tradition of Dhaka city. "There is a raging battle between the two, something that happens everywhere when you try to mix modernity with traditional values. This is quite interesting from the anthropologcal-sociological background that I have."</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">On a more personal level for Pamela there is a quest to find what her Bangladeshi heritage really means to her. "It's the country where my parents come from, one that I am part of. My identity is that I am partly Bangladeshi", says Pamela who speaks Sylheti and was always in touch with Bangladeshi culture thanks to her parents who take pride in being Bangladeshi.</p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="200"> <tbody><tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2006/08/01/cover05.jpg" height="250" width="197" />Pamela, as a writer is fascinated by the country</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Sadly, Pamela's need to be accepted as a Bangladeshi has been a little disappointing. "I've been treated like a foreigner, the term bideshi has been used a lot - it's almost like an identity people want to pigeon-hole you in. It's strange to be a foreigner in what technically should be your homeland".</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Other rude shocks for Pamela include being harassed by security guards at Zia International Airport where she was stranded for three hours, having arrived on a hartal day. "I am surprised at the lack of human courtesy and civility. When you land at ZIA it's such a different experience than when you land at other airports."</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">"It's also the way people look at you when you're out and about, it's quite difficult for me. Then what I find very disturbing is the dependency of people on domestic help who are treated with such little respect. They are such an integral part of family life here yet they are treated as unequals."</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">But there are experiences that endear Bangladesh to this passionate writer." I love the sense of family here, that people actually take time to spend it with their family members, just sitting and talking" says Pamela who is staying with her brother's wife. " It is something I don't get a chance to do back home. It feels like such a luxury to laugh and joke with friends and family and not feel guilty about it. It's an essential and integral part of day to day living - I love that."</p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="left" border="0" width="192"> <tbody><tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="left"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2006/08/01/cover06.jpg" height="250" width="186" />Mohammad Nurul Karim- always in touch with what is happenning in his homeland</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">The scenic beauty of rural Bangladesh has worked its charm on Pamela. " The lush greenness, the paddy fields, the yellow mustard fields and tiny tin-roofed houses - these are scenes I remember from childhood. There is a concept of Bangladesh being incredibly poor, which it is, but there is also a rich vibrancy in it that gets lost in the headlines."</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">"I read in an article on the Happy Index where I think Bangladesh came 37th compared to England which came to like 112 or something, which is interesting because in England you have everything but there is a lot of depression and lack of happiness. In rural parts of Bangladesh, there is this innocence and a certain sense of contentment which makes Bangladesh richer than any of those wealthier nations".</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">According to 55-year-old Mohammed Nurul Karim, there is no place like home. A Lecturer of English, Karim had left the country in 1978 for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to teach at the Ministry of Education. Actively involved in the cultural activities, he graduated with a Master's degree in English Literature from Dhaka University. He also worked at the ShilpaKala Academy and the External and Home services of Radio Bangladesh, Dhaka as a broadcaster. However, back in those days, a well-paid full time job was rarely seen for an average Master's degree holder. “Once I was offered a job at the Ministry of Education in Saudi Arabia, I grabbed the opportunity and have been there ever since,” says Karim. After working for more than 20 years with the Ministry of Education, he recently joined the Ministry of Health, teaching English at the Health Science College. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Karim and his family have been coming back to Bangladesh almost every summer, visiting with other family members. This summer he plans to visit his ancestral home in the village </p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="200"> <tbody><tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2006/08/01/cover07.jpg" height="149" width="200" />Naimul- gets in touch with the Bangladeshi music scene this summer</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">in Chittagong. Over the last few decades, Karim has made a note of the various changes that took place in the country. “Almost every summer, I come back to a new country, thanks to the way the country has changed and shaped up in the last few years,” he smiles. He speaks of the changes that took place in fields of culture, technology and even the social structure. “However, the political unrest has gotten worse,” he implies. “I never miss the news telecast on the satellite channels back in the Kingdom and wonder how the country is still surviving so well.”</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Nurul's son 16-year-old Naimul Karim is currently studying in the 12th grade at an International School in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Born and brought up in the Kingdom, he has been visiting Bangladesh with his family from the age of 7 months. According to him, coming back for the summer this year is definitely very different from the past summers that he spent in Dhaka. “I was too young to go places by myself and learn about the country in the past,” he says. “However, for the past couple of summers, I was exposed to much more. This is because of the changes that have taken place in the past few years. For instance, there are lots of eateries in Dhaka now. There are lots of places in the city where teenagers can hang out and have fun. Last summer, I had fun at the new Pool and Snooker places that opened up in Dhaka.”</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">This summer, Naim plans to attend as many concerts as he can in Dhaka. “The music scenario has changed a lot in the past few years,” he explains. “I even got to meet many of the underground musicians personally and saw them while they jammed. I am even thinking of getting a guitar for myself from Dhaka to take back to the Kingdom.”</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Keenly interested in sports, computer games, books, movies and writing, he is also spending this summer as a contributor to a supplement of a daily newspaper. “Life here as compared to the Kingdom is very eventful,” he exclaims. “I can explore many different fields related to music, education and sports and even meet with experts if I need to. This is something very difficult to do in KSA. However, I am still not used to the hartals that are frequently held in Dhaka. That is when I wonder how difficult it is for people to get on with their lives here.”</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16 style32">A Working Holiday</p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="200"> <tbody><tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2006/08/01/cover08.jpg" height="200" width="300" />Sarah getting hands-on experience in journalism</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16" align="left"><span class="style31">T</span>wenty-year-old Sarah Mahmud is a bubbly Journalism student from Eastern Michigan University who although has spent a significant part of her life in the US still thinks of Dhaka as her home. “My grandmother lives here so I come here as often as possible, sometimes twice a year.”</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">This time around she is in Dhaka both on pleasure and as part of her studies. She's doing an internship with a newspaper. “I really like working here. I feel like I can relate to the people of this country rather than the ones in the US,” exclaims Sarah who is half Korean and half Bangladeshi.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16"> “Living in the States, I get really homesick. I was born and brought up in Dhaka till the age of 12,"says Sarah, "I've been living in the States for the last eight years and even though it is much more developed, liberal, and there are a lot of things to keep one entertained, I'd much rather be living here,” she says.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Like any other girl, Sarah loves the shopping experience in Dhaka and she also enjoys going to historical places. “Even though I've been to the museums and Shahid Minar several times before as a child I feel the need to recharge my nationalism batteries a bit more every time I visit Bangladesh.”</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Sarah is also crazy about the food here. “I love eating <em>fuchka</em> and <em>chotpoti</em> with my friends. And I love <em>biriyani</em> so much, that I've actually crashed a few weddings just to eat some,” she says grinning, “Most people don't really question me because they think that I'm a 'foreigner' and can't speak Bangla. I just say that I'm a friend of a really distant relative and act very confused and that's pretty much the ticket inside the party.”</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">What Sarah finds the most disturbing aspect of life in Dhaka is the corruption. “My family and I have had the unfortunate opportunity of experiencing it first hand and it never really ceases to shock me,” she adds.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Despite that Sarah feels that she has a much better life in Dhaka and plans to move back here after she is through with college. “The U.S is too big. I feel as though instead of a name, I have a number. I feel as though I owe it to my country and to myself to do something here.”</p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="200"> <tbody><tr> <td class="osdn-navtext"><div align="right"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2006/08/01/cover09.jpg" height="170" width="200" />Rabi- dabbling with development work</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16"><span class="style31">T</span>wenty-year-old Rabi Chowdhury has been working at BRAC this summer in Dhaka. An undergraduate student at the London School of Economics in London, he is currently majoring in International Relations. Having just begun his work at BRAC, Rabi plans to work till late September. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">“I come every summer and winter since I have been away,” says Rabi. “I come every spring too if my parents can help it.” Getting a summer internship was Rabi's cousin Tahlee Afzal's idea, a barrister from London who has been working full time at BRAC since March. “Since she worked at BRAC, she was aware of the vacancies and also the need for a student worker or an intern to work there,” Rabi explains. “That's how I got myself an internship this summer.”</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Rabi's major task at BRAC is to report on the Women's Enterprise Development (WEDp) programme, which branches out of the micro finance programme in general and also a part of the Progoti programme. “I have to go to the different branches of WEDp,” says Rabi. “And talk to the branch managers and district officers. Other than the paper work done at office, one of my major assignments is to do field work. I just returned from visiting the branch managers and the district officers in Mirpur and Badda today.”</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Though he lives in London, Rabi is quite used to how things work in Dhaka. “I lived here for quite some time before moving to London,” he smiles. Nevertheless, working here in Dhaka is an altogether new experience for Rabi. Incidentally, this being his first real job, he has officially begun the process of learning how to mix with people from all walks of life and manage critical situations. For Rabi, spending the summer here is not only a fun-filled occasion to get together with his family, but also to put some real worth into the visit which he would gladly do every summer in Dhaka.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">“Dhaka is getting so competitive day by day, I think it's a necessity for me to sample the job market here,” says 21-year-old Rumana Islam. A summer intern at the HSBC bank in </p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="right" border="0" width="124"> <tbody><tr> <td class="osdn-navtext" width="118"><div align="right"><img src="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2006/08/01/cover10.jpg" height="250" width="167" />Rumana- getting some banking experience this summer</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Gulshan, Rumana is a third-year Economics major at the Queen's University in Canada. According to her, there has been quite an upward shift where the middle-class section of the society and education is concerned. “I think I would like to come back to Dhaka and work here,” she smiles.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Her confidence and competitiveness to join the Dhaka market might be because of the fact that every summer that she visits family in Dhaka, she puts it to use by working as an intern somewhere or the other in Dhaka. “My first summer, I worked at Grameen Trust,” Rumana explains. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Ever since her younger sister and she were little, their parents would talk to them about the country, the economy and the prospects of building a better nation based on a stronger economy. Rumana grew up dreaming about joining the development sector in Bangladesh. “I still have some time till I finish my undergrad studies,” she says. “Meanwhile, I am gathering as much work experience in Dhaka as possible.”</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Rumana is quite used to Dhaka and can work around the rough edges. However, she has been surprised, much to her annoyance, while dealing with customers at HSBC. “Back in Canada, there is a certain kind of unspoken or unwritten norm that is followed by both the customer and the service provider,” she explains. “This summer working at a bank dealing with customers, I figured that, if not all, there are some people belonging to the society, who simply don't make an effort to be responsible of what they do. For example, there are customers who come inside the office screaming, without reading the instructions properly, about a card which was discarded after due time by the bank authorities. Some simply don't realise that your bank account is your identification in a bank. If you don't have it with you, there's not much we can do to help you.” </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Rumana had also gone through issues related to her gender while working this summer. “There was a male customer I was dealing with,” she says. “Who had called back at the office just to remark on how pretty I looked holding a pen and writing at my desk, while serving the customers. This is something that I was prepared for though, since even today, most people in Bangladesh view women as an ornamental display even at a workplace. I did speak to the man, the next time when he came to the bank, and asked him to be more professional while dealing with professionals at an office.”</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16">Other than the little hindrances that seem to glide up from time to time, Rumana is very impressed with the bank and is sure to learn much more by the end of August when she leaves for Canada.</p> <p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16"> <span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;">Volume </span><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><strong>5</strong> Issue <b>10</b></span><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><b>6</b></span> | <strong><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;">August 4</span></strong><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><strong>, 2006</strong></span><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"> |</span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="style16" align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;"><b>Copyright (R) thedailystar.net 2006</b></span></p>Elita Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15708378163417621945noreply@blogger.com0